David McGoldrick, Brett Pitman and Dean Gerken all start for the Blues at Preston in what looks set to be a 4-3-3 formation.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles drops to the bench, while Daryl Murphy misses out with a calf injury and Bartosz Bialkowski due to a personal family matter. Michael Crowe is on the bench.

Teddy Bishop and Kevin Bru (hamstring) and Luke Hyam (knee surgery) are also still sidelined.

Preston include play-off final hat-trick hero Jermaine Beckford on the bench, his first involvement this season after he suffered a knock in pre-season.

Preston: Pickford, Clarke, Huntington, Wright, Cunningham, Welsh, Kilkenny, Johnson, Gallagher, Humphrey, Garner. Subs: Kirkland, Vermijl, Woods, Browne, Brownhill, Reid, Beckford.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Fraser, Sears, McGoldrick, Pitman. Subs: Crowe, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Tabb, Coke, Touré, Maitland-Niles. Referee: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire).

Photo: Action Images

bkitfc added 14:35 - Aug 22 I am sad but I understand why Maitland-Niles isn't starting. I also find it a shame that Blanchfield, Fowler and Ford are not in the squad even though is a very young bench.
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bkitfc added 14:35 - Aug 22 *it is a very young bench
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unknown100 added 14:36 - Aug 22 Think Pittman will play right midfield rather than. 433, kindov the role varney played last year, niles is only 17 but good impact sub if we need him
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NSL added 14:42 - Aug 22 We have an embarrassment of riches upfront but our goalkeeping situation as an absolute joke!
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NB72 added 14:45 - Aug 22 bkitfc: Why on earth do you find it a shame the players you mention are not on the bench? Should they be on the bench just beacuse they are travelling and younger? Get a grip!
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jas0999 added 14:45 - Aug 22 Very attacking team. No back up strikers on the bench, so let's hope we don't need a goal.very young bench, so perhaps some additional senior reinforcement required. Gerken; I wish him well, but still think we need a new keeper.
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rkl added 14:46 - Aug 22 Gerken in for Bart and Niles and Murphy not playing, couldn't be worse really.
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Mr_Evans added 14:46 - Aug 22 Very shrewd tactics from MM - I think we'll play: a flat back four, Skuse & Douglas sitting back Sears & Fraser in the left & right McGoldrick & Pitman up top. Preston are a tight set up so we're setting up to throw everything we can - also our front four can alternate with will throw Preston off. I see us winning 3-0
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rickw added 14:56 - Aug 22 I would guess it's a 4-2-3-1 formation, with probably Pitman the 1, McGoldrick behind and Sears and Fraser wide
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bkitfc added 14:57 - Aug 22 NB72: Sorry. Just my opinion but I do get where you are coming from
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