Preston v Doncaster preview

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Preston captain Tom Clarke could return to the squad for Doncaster’s visit to Deepdale.

In-form North End’s only injury concern is defender Clarke, who missed the 4-0 demolition of Oldham on Saturday after he came off against Walsall following a blow to the head.

Scott Wiseman came in for Clarke in the sole change at the weekend as Simon Grayson’s third-placed side recorded a fifth straight League One victory.

Former Everton striker Jermaine Beckford (ear infection) made a goalscoring return in that fixture and will be among a host of names hoping Grayson opts to shuffle his pack for a third game in eight days.

Midfielder James Coppinger will return to the Doncaster squad after recovering from an ankle injury.

Rovers boss Paul Dickov has one or two players nursing minor bumps and bruises following the win over Colchester on Saturday but the Scot reported no new absentees ahead of the trip.

Dickov freshened up his team with three changes against the U’s and must now decide whether to stick with a winning side or tweak things once again.

“That’s the old conundrum isn’t it,” said Dickov. “It worked on Saturday. We had seven games last month and there’s another six this month so the players are going to have to be managed but I’m yet to make up my mind what we’ll do at Preston.”

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Preston v Doncaster preview

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Shane Cansdell-Sherriff is available for Preston after serving a two-match ban.

Cansdell-Sherriff was sent off during the closing stages of North End’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy penalty shoot-out triumph over Bury earlier this month and was forced to sit out two games for a second red card this season.

Will Hayhurst made his first start on Boxing Day against Bury since the similarly goalless draw with MK Dons in October as a replacement for Lee Holmes, who is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks with a groin injury suffered after scoring during last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Coventry.

Striker Stuart Beavon was ruled out in midweek after collecting a hip injury during the warm-up at the Ricoh Arena and David Amoo, Lee Trundle, Anthony Elding and Graham Cummins could all push to bolster Graham Westley’s misfiring forward line.

North End won 3-1 at Doncaster in November, but the Bury stalemate was their fifth goalless draw in the league this season and they lie eight points shy of the play-off places in 14th.

Doncaster will not be able to call on Iain Hume.

Hume is on loan at Rovers from North End, recently extending his stay at the Keepmoat Stadium until the end of the season, and the Canada international striker is ineligible under the terms of the agreement.

His enforced absence could present an opportunity for either Chris Brown or Robbie Blake to come into the starting line-up.

Martin Woods is closing in on a return from a thigh injury while fellow midfielder Dave Syers marked his comeback from an ankle knock with the winning goal from the bench in injury at Oldham on Boxing Day.

Midfielder Sammy Clingan has left the club after his short-term contract expired.