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Milutin Osmajic | CameraSport - Andrew Kearns
The latest from the PNE treatment table ahead of Friday’s home clash
Preston North End will remain without Ali McCann and Lewis Gibson tomorrow night, against Stoke City.
The Northern Ireland international injured his ankle at Coventry City, last week, but was given half a chance of returning against the Potters. However, the game will come too soon for him while Gibson, who tore a shoulder muscle at home to Oxford United, is not ready to return either.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom said on Thursday: “Ali will be out. We were not ruling him out because he was really positive but he's not made it. Gibbo's trained but we'll rule him out; I don't think he'll be strong enough with his arm.
“Milly’s fine... trained the last couple of days. Langy is still out but we knew that, so those three will be after the international break. As much as I was sure, if Ali goes down like that, comes off and out of the game, if Ali's not ruling himself out he'll put himself forward at the first opportunity.
“But we have to be sensible with it... it's not like a kick that, if you can tolerate the pain you can play. If he's done the ligaments in his ankle it's got to be functionally right, or he's not going to perform properly.”
Jamal Lewis latest
On the left-back, who hasn’t been involved in PNE’s last five squads, the North End boss said: “Jamal's got an ankle injury. So, he’s going to see a specialist regarding that. How we manage that going forward will be a conversation between us and Jamal.”
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