Preston North End have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of the new season.
Preston North End have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of the new Championship season.Defender Youl Mawene is now set to miss the rest of the season after scans revealed the former Lens and Derby County man has torn cruciate and medial knee ligaments.
Mawene sustained the injury in last Saturday's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Manchester United, with manager Paul Simpson lamenting the loss of the 27-year-old.
"It is a huge blow, being selfish it is a massive blow to my plans for the team, but more importantly, it is a huge blow to Youl," Simpson told Preston's official website.
"He has been superb throughout pre-season and to pick up an injury like this at this stage of the season is awful and he is absolutely distraught about it.
"I am quite sure his rehab will be done to the best that he possibly can, but he just has to keep his head and everyone at the club will wish him a speedy recovery."
Fellow defender Callum Davidson will also miss the start of the new season after needing surgery to repair medial ligament damage in his knee.
The Scotland international faces up to three months on the sidelines as a result, with The Lilywhites embarking on a new campaign against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
