Paul Gallagher sits out the second of three matches after his retrospective suspension issued by the FA after the Stoke City home game.
Gallagher joins injured trio Calum Woods and Sean Maguire (both hamstring) and Billy Bodin (knee) on the sidelines for the Lilywhites’ trip to Pride Park to take on Frank Lampard’s Derby County in EFL Championship action.
The manager changed shape and personnel for Wednesday night’s clash with Norwich City at Carrow Road and with this, the third game in a week for his side, further changes could be made for the clash with the Rams.
He went with two strikers in Norwich, with Lukas Nmecha partnered by Louis Moult in attack, but reverted to 4-2-3-1 in the second half and he has the options to go with a number of formations.
Lampard has been without skipper Curtis Davies, who was injured in their opening day win over Reading and not played since, however, he could return for this weekend’s game, with stand-in captain Richard Keogh and young Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori competing for a place alongside the former Hull City defender.
George Evans was substituted mid-way through the first half in their win over Ipswich Town at Pride Park on Tuesday night and was replaced by goalscorer Joe Ledley. The Welshman should keep his place, with Evans likely to miss out, as well as fellow midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who despite injury has been linked with moved to both Stoke and West Brom.