PNE progressed in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom has stressed the importance of squad depth amid this season’s early injury wave.
The Lilywhites were without a host of senior players in Tuesday night’s 0-1 win at Barrow, and dealt a further blow during the game when Mads Frokjaer was forced offwith a groin issue.
PNE could welcome Liam Lindsay back to the fold this weekend but he was absent at Holker Street, along with Robbie Brady, Brad Potts, Jordan Thompson, Daniel Jebbison and Will Keane.
“I thought Saturday was a great example of how important subs are,” said PNE’s boss. “I felt when we had the bodies last season - certainly first half of the season until February, March - our bench was really effective.
“We know how important that's going to be throughout the season. We want to make sure that we've got players who are ready to play; that we pick a team that's really competitive. But then, we make substitutions that affect the game as well.”
Given those absences, a first start in PNE colours since October 2024 was handed to Jeppe Okkels. The Dane, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Aberdeen, started at left wing-back and then shifted into a central, attacking role.
“I've seen plenty of Jeppe,” said Heckingbottom. “It's just getting him on the pitch and giving him a chance to impress. He's worked hard in pre-season and that little illness when we were away in Spain meant he missed the Getafe game.
“Quite a bit of training too, and around that time the hard training. But, he's got himself back fit now. Like I say, it's not only a good opportunity for Jeppe but it's the right thing to do for the rest of the players as well.”
A second PNE start was also handed to Andrija Vukcevic, this time at left centre-back with Andrew Hughes on the bench. The Montenegrin had played at left wing-back a few days prior; the manager is confident in his ability to carry out both roles.
“Yes, I knew he could play there,” said Heckingbottom. “I could see that when we first started working with him. He played in an in-house game. It was more about getting the minutes into the rest of the bodies and giving them that opportunity to impress.”
One player who didn’t get on the pitch, but will no doubt have embraced the evening, was teenager Michael Ayodele. The striker scored in pre-season as the academy took on Bamber Bridge; Heckingbottom has brought him up to train with the senior squad.
“Yes, we took him as a sub to Man City,” said Heckingbottom. “He's only just in the building. There's him and George (Gryba), first-year scholars who were under-16s last year. Michael came on when we played City away.
“I think he played about 60 minutes when Jebbo picked up that knock his back. So, we had the intention of using him depending on how the game was going. He would have been a good foil and to help save potentially Millie and Smudge’s legs.”
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