Preston v Portsmouth early team news: 16 players could be ruled out at Deepdale
Preston North End and Portsmouth could be without a combined 16 players when they face off at Deepdale this weekend.
Portsmouth travel to Preston to face Paul Heckingbottom’s side after being handed a shock defeat by last-placed Plymouth at Fratton Park.
Pompey’s defeat to Plymouth leaves Pompey just six points off the drop zone, having lost two of their last three Championship games.
However, John Mousinho’s side are still in decent form in the longer term, having won four of their last six league matches.
Preston have been winless in their last three games and will look to secure all three points at home against Pompey. However, both sides face injury and suspension concerns going into the match.
Injury concerns for Preston vs Portsmouth
With Heckingbottom’s side hosting Pompey, both sides will be without some of their important players. According to WhoScored, as many as 16 players could miss the clash between Preston and Portsmouth.
For Portsmouth, nine players are ruled out. Callum Lang, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat are out for the rest of the season after suffering long-term injuries.
Left-back Jacob Farrell picked up a knee injury in October 2024 and then had another injury setback, ruling him out until May. Paddy Lane’s knee injury has kept him out of action since January.
| Opposition | Home/Away |
| Preston | Away |
| Blackburn | Home |
| Millwall | Away |
| Coventry | Away |
| Derby | Home |
Defenders Conor Shaughnessy and Jordan Williams are also ruled out of the match. Rob Atkinson will remain out until April after he was forced to come off against QPR back in February.
Mousinho has had to tinker his team on several occasions because of injury concerns and the clash against Preston will be no different.
For the hosts, five players are ruled out of the match and two of them are a doubt. Jordan Storey, Duane Holmes, Jack Whatmough, Ali McCann and Brad Potts are unavailable for the game whereas Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Milutin Osmajic are a doubt.
Portsmouth must win vs Preston
The South Coast side losing to Plymouth have put them in a slightly uncomfortable position as they sit in 17th spot, six points above the drop zone.
The bottom half of the Championship is tightly contested and any negative results will massively affect Portsmouth’s chances of survival.
The bottom three are separated by just two points and Pompey cannot become complacent now.
Mousinho’s side have a tricky run of fixtures ahead with games against Blackburn and Coventry, who are in the hunt for a play-off spot, hence they need to make the most of this game against Preston.