The gaffer has come out this week, stating that this coming week is the toughest we have faced yet and I am going to have to agree with him.
The next eight days will tell us a lot about this team and will test the strength depth of the squad that to me, looks a bit thin.
We start the week with an away day at Preston North End. North End as ever, are going about their business quietly and effectively. They always seem to be around the Play-offs come the end of the season and they look like achieving the same this year.
Alan Irvine has a fully fit squad to pick from with captain Callum Davidson expected to return to the side after a lengthy lay-off.
From our perspective Freddie Sears is a major doubt with the recurring groin strain that saw him limp out of the 1-1 draw with Forest. Lee Hills looks set to start in his preferred left back birth after the ever committed Hill picked up his fifth booking of the campaign triggering the unsightly touchline scenes and war of words last week.
Claude Davis could return to the fold and Warnock has been hinting all week that Ryan Smith could be set to play a bigger role in first-team in the hope of securing a longer term deal.
There are also murmurings around the club that influential centre back Paddy McCarthy has suffered yet another recurrence of dislocated shoulder that kept him out of action for half of last term. We will not know the severity of the injury until the club release a statement but the sign’s certainly aren’t positive.
McCarthy will leave a huge hole in the Palace rear guard so the onus will be on Claude Davis to perform heroics as he steps into the fray against his former club despite doubts over his match fitness.
Despite the injury woes Deepdale has been a happy hunting ground for the Eagles in recent seasons with North End winning only one of the last five meetings between the two teams.
I have a good feeling about this game, and believe we can snatch a scoring draw, maybe were even start putting some of our chances after Warnock’s comments earlier this week about taking chances. This should be helped if Stern can get his second start of the season, I believe he’s a natural finisher and has promised us 15 goals this season.
And who knows if he can stay fit maybe Victor can get on the score sheet this season. He certainly came close last week and if he’s played up top with his new mentor Stern John then I’d put money on him scoring tomorrow.
Here's hoping!
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