Preston boss Alan Irvine could hand defender Neal Trotman his North End debut at fellow Championship strugglers Norwich on Saturday.North End this week signed the highly-rated 20-year-old from League One outfit Oldham for an initial fee of £500,000.

Trotman made just 24 senior appearances for the Latics and has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal at Deepdale.

His arrival is a welcome boost to a Preston side missing a trio of players through suspension. Youl Mawene and Chris Brown were both red-carded in Tuesday's stirring 2-1 win over West Brom and are suspended for the Carrow Road clash.

And with winger Chris Sedgwick also banned, North End's resources will be severely stretched, while midfielder Jason Jarrett has joined Oldham on loan.

Billy Jones is available again after the former Crewe defender recovered from a hernia operation and goalkeeper Wayne Henderson remains sidelined with a back injury.

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