Manager Alex Neil must check on the fitness of midfielder Ben Pearson ahead of the final game of the regular season at home to Burton Albion this Sunday.
The No.4 played through the pain barrier in the last half an hour of last weekend’s vital victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, but has been unable to train since.
Paul Huntington and Tom Clarke both came through the game with the Blades with no further complications, both having not trained for a week before the game after hamstring complaints.
The manager revealed after the win over Chris Wilder’s men that a number of his squad had been unable to train in the run up to the trip across the Pennines, however, he hopes to have a virtually full squad back in training this week, subject to Pearson’s availability.
The only player not likely to be available is John Welsh. The long-serving midfielder, who it was announced on Thursday will be leaving at the end of the season, has been unavailable with a slight injury in recent weeks and will not make the squad for the clash with Nigel Clough’s men.
With only a win being enough for the Lilywhites if they are to reach the Play-Offs, the manager has plenty of attacking options available to him. Last weekend Sean Maguire returned from injury to start in the No.9 role, but there are plenty of options should the manager look to freshen matters.
Alan Browne will look to get into double figures for the season in terms of goals and Tom Barkhuizen, if he plays a part, will be the only player in the squad to have been involved in every single league game.