Preston's striking options have suffered a blow after West Bromwich Albion exercised their right to recall injured striker Craig Beattie.

The Scottish international forward will return to The Hawthorns for treatment on his torn hamstring in the hope of making a recovery in time to be a part of the Baggies' potential Play-Off and FA Cup hopes, with their season likely to extend beyond our own.

Beattie, 24, played just 38 minutes of his debut at Leicester earlier this month before being forced from the field having sustained a double tear of the hamstring. His brief North End career nearly got off to a dream start, as he saw a one-on-one effort well saved by Foxes keeper Paul Henderson within the first 30 seconds, but it all went sour later in the half when the injury struck.

With the front man expected to be out until the final few games of the season, his availability for North End would have remained limited, but his presence at Deepdale has been keenly welcomed in recent weeks.

Manager Alan Irvine explained:

"He was fantastic while he was here, and it was amazing how much he got into the spirit of things. He only played for us for 38 minutes, and yet when we beat Wolves he came into the dressing room absolutely beaming and as excited as anybody!

"I'm delighted that he grasped the team ethic and got involved as much as he did during the short time with us. It's a shame for him that it didn't work out for him because of the injury.

"I spoke to Tony Mowbray to find out whether he wanted the treatment and rehabilitation to take place back at West Brom, or whether he wanted it to take place here. 

"I was quite happy for Craig to stay with us because we'd already made that commitment, but Tony obviously wanted his own player getting treatment from his own staff.

"That's understandable, and it's what I would have done as well. If any of our players was out on loan and they got an injury keeping them out for the rest of the season I would want them back straight away.

"Craig was disappointed, obviously, that he was going back, but clearly he has to follow the wishes of Tony Mowbray. I believe that it's probably the right situation."

The gaffer also moved to quash rumours that Beattie was due to stay at Deepdale for longer because a deal had been done to keep him here beyond the end of the season, adding:

"That's not something that's really been discussed at all. We simply had an opportunity to bring Craig here on loan, and who knows what might have happened from there. It was purely a loan deal, and there was never any discussion between us and West Brom about it being any more than that.

"There were also no discussions with Craig about it being any more than that so we wish him well for his future at West Brom."