Portsmouth predicted XI vs Preston – Luke Le Roux could finally start, new signing dropped
Portsmouth welcome Preston to Fratton Park on Saturday, and they’ll be hoping for their first home win of the new season.
John Mousinho’s men have picked up four hard-fought points on the road, but Norwich beat them at home in the league and Reading knocked them out of the Carabao Cup.
Considering how good their home form was last season, the Portsmouth fans will expect a positive performance and result from this match.
Below, Pompey News presents a predicted XI to start the match.
Luke Le Roux pushing for a start against Preston North End
Portsmouth fans have been excited to see Luke Le Roux play ever since he signed from Swedish side IFK Varnamo.
Le Roux played well in his full Portsmouth debut against Reading, and supporters have been calling for him to start since then.
Le Roux admitted he had been struggling for fitness in the early weeks of the season, but he made a good contribution against West Brom, and his chance to start a league game could come this Saturday.
The South African could replace John Swift, who looked slightly off the pace at The Hawthorns last week.
The other ten players who started against West Brom look set to retain their place after a good all-round performance.
Portsmouth predicted XI: Schmid, Swanson, Poole, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie, Le Roux, Dozzell, Bianchini, Segecic, Murphy, Bishop
Josh Knight may have to bide his time on the substitutes’ bench
Josh Knight is Portsmouth’s newest summer signing, having arrived from Hannover 96 just before the West Brom match.
The centre-half has Championship experience with Peterborough and Wycome Wanderers, and has been recruited to add strength in depth to the Pompey defence.
Knight is:
- big and strong
- aggressive in the challenge
- a goal threat from set pieces.
However, he may have to bide his time on the substitutes bench for now.
Regan Poole and Conor Shuaghnessy were momentous against West Brom last Saturday, and it’s difficult to see how Mousinho could drop either of them.
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