Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed an injury worry for defender Andrija Vukcevic following a 2-1 Championship defeat at Watford on Tuesday. The loss, reported by Sky Sports Football, leaves Preston 23rd in the table with just three points from five games, already eight points behind leaders Swansea.
What is the latest Preston injury news?
Paul Heckingbottom told Yahoo Sports that Andrija Vukcevic was forced off during the Watford match with a back problem. The manager explained the substitution was not tactical, saying Vukcevic "felt his back" after a challenge while clearing the ball. This adds to a growing injury list at Deepdale that already includes Ali McCann, Brad Potts and Andrew Hughes, details of which are tracked on our injuries page.
Heckingbottom also discussed his team selection, bringing Johnny Kenny into the starting line-up for his first start. He said the decision was about injecting freshness and getting players like Kenny up to speed with game time during a busy fixture run. The manager added that leaving Delano Burgzorg out meant they needed to retain pace in their attack.
How did Preston lose to Watford?
According to match reports from both Sky Sports and the BBC, Preston took an early lead at Vicarage Road through Callum Lang. Jordan Thompson's shot was pushed onto the post by Watford keeper Federico Ravaglia and Lang converted the rebound for his third goal in two games. Preston dominated the first half and missed several chances to double their advantage, with Lang and Alfie Devine both denied.
Watford improved after half-time and equalised through Edo Kayembe before Mamadou Doumbia headed a 74th-minute winner. The result means Preston have now lost four of their five league games this season, conceding ten goals while scoring only five. You can see the full Championship standings for the latest table.
What did Callum Lang say about Preston's form?
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire before the Watford game, striker Callum Lang said he felt the team had turned a corner with their win over Blackburn Rovers. Lang scored twice in that derby, ending a wait of 12 appearances for his first Preston goals. The 27-year-old said it was a "massive result" for confidence after a tough start and that the team had shown more positive, aggressive play in their last two outings.
Lang, who joined from Portsmouth seven months ago, stated that adding goals was the most important thing for him as a forward. He believes his own improvement directly helps the team and that creating more chances has made Preston look a better side.
What is Preston's next fixture?
Preston's focus now shifts to preparing for their next Championship match at Deepdale. They host Lincoln City on Saturday, September 12th. Lincoln are currently 18th in the table, offering Preston a chance to build on the momentum Lang identified. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
