Rochdale v Preston preview

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Hill has no new injury or suspension problems following Dale’s opening-day defeat to Peterborough at Spotland and will send out a strong line-up for the visit of Simon Grayson’s local League One rivals.

Summer signing Calvin Andrew is pushing for his first competitive start for the club after stepping off the substitutes’ bench at the weekend, while Joe Bunney and Peter Vincenti are also in contention again.

Another summer arrival, forward Jack Muldoon, remains sidelined with the groin problem that forced him to miss most of pre-season.

Preston boss Simon Grayson has admitted he faces a selection dilemma ahead of the trip to Spotland.

Kyel Reid (knee) and Lee Holmes (chest) remain long-term absentees, but Grayson still has a number of senior players to choose from.

Veteran striker Kevin Davies could be involved from the start along with Scott Wiseman, John Welsh and Jack King.

New signing Jordan Hugill will also be hoping to feature after failing to make the squad which drew 1-1 with Notts County on Saturday.

Rochdale v Preston preview

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Defender Neill Byrne could make his Rochdale debut when Preston travel to Spotland.

Former Nottingham Forest academy graduate Byrne, 18, penned an 18-month deal with Dale on New Year’s Day and is immediately available to caretaker boss Chris Beech.

Midfielder Joe Thompson returned in the New Year’s Eve stalemate with Walsall following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury and could retain his place in the starting line-up.

Goalkeeper David Lucas also came back against the Saddlers, making his first appearance since suffering a head injury against Sheffield United last month.

Beech is selecting from a somewhat streamlined Rochdale squad after loanees Matthew Barnes-Homer, Pim Balkestein, Roland Bergkamp and Ahmad Benali left the club in the wake of manager Steve Eyre’s departure.

Midfielder Simon Hackney (abdominal) and defender Marc Twaddle (back) remain unavailable.

Meanwhile, joint caretaker manager Graham Alexander has suggested Jake Jervis will make his Preston debut in the npower League One clash with Rochdale.

The 20-year-old forward is a new arrival at Deepdale after agreeing a four-week youth loan from Birmingham.

“You have to concentrate on the players that are fit and we will pick a team that can go and win three points against Rochdale,” said Alexander on North End’s official website. “Jake will definitely come into that conversation because he is here and he is fit.”

Jervis will contest a place in attack with Jamie Proctor, who returned from a setback in his recovery from a hernia operation to start the New Year’s Eve defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale, while midfielder Barry Nicholson (ankle) is expected to miss out once more.

Centre-back Jamie McCombe is set to play his last game for the Lilywhites before returning to parent club Huddersfield.

McCombe was recalled by the Terriers last week before being granted a slightly extended stay in Lancashire for the remainder of the festive fixtures.

Rochdale v Preston preview

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Rochdale defender Dean Holden is cup-tied and unavailable for the northern section quarter-final meeting.

Holden joined on an emergency loan deal from Chesterfield last week and made his Dale debut in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to MK Dons.

Another loanee debutant at stadium:mk was Harry Bunn and the 18-year-old Manchester City forward will be gunning for a start after coming on against the Dons for the final 15 minutes.

Player turnover has been prolific at Spotland under Steve Eyre this term and left-back Stephen Jordan is expected to be retained after making his maiden start in Milton Keynes.

Pim Balkestein is set to miss out with a thigh injury, while Marc Twaddle (hamstring) is also sidelined.

Jake Kean has been recalled to parent-club Blackburn, meaning David Lucas will continue in goal.

Juvhel Tsoumou is set to continue in attack for Preston.

Iain Hume and Neil Mellor are still yet to return from respective knee and ankle injuries, while Jamie Proctor went under the knife to address a hernia last week.

Danny Mayor returned from a hamstring problem as a half-time substitute in the 5-2 defeat at Charlton on Saturday alongside fellow wideman Keammar Daley, who will be pushing for a start after netting one of the Lilywhites’ consolation goals.

Boss Phil Brown has as yet been unable to bring in goalkeeping cover after Iain Turner suffered a broken foot in training.

It is believed a deal for former Alemannia Aachen keeper Thorsten Stuckmann is close to completion, but international clearance has not yet been granted by the German FA for the 30-year-old.

North End are without a win in their last eight matches.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm.