Graham Westley revealed that striker Lee Trundle is expected to be out for up to four months with a knee injury, following the Lilywhites’ 1-0 win over AEK Athens.
Trundle picked up the injury last week at Morecambe following a strong challenge from behind, and will now undergo an operation.
The North End boss said: “Lee Trundle is having an operation on his knee, it is a devastating piece of news for him. It is not going to be a quick one and he is going to be out of action for some time.
“He was looking so good and working so hard, it was a nasty challenge and his knee has taken quite a lot of pressure for a player whose never had a serious operation.
“He is gutted but he is a strong character Lee, he is very good in the changing room and he spreads a lot of positivity although he has been a bit down because of the news he needs an operation. He will be back at it as soon as possible and getting himself ready.
“He has damaged the meniscus and he has strained both the medial and cruciate ligaments. They are strains and they are nothing we are worried about, the cartilage is the main damaged.
“He is going to have a bit of work on the structure of the knee and stitch the cartilage back together rather than pull it all out. It will probably be three to four months before he is back in action.”