Neil Mellor and Callum Davidson return for Preston as they take on Ipswich at Deepdale on Saturday.
Double boost for North End; Town could be without Thatcher
Neil Mellor and Callum Davidson return for Preston as they take on Ipswich at Deepdale on Saturday.
Preston boss Alan Irvine is boosted by the availability of striker Mellor and defender Davidson for the home clash in the Championship this weekend.
Former Liverpool man, Mellor is North End's leading scorer with nine goals this season but he has been sidelined since mid-January after undergoing a hernia operation.
Full-back Davidson has not featured since limping out of the defeat at Swansea a month ago with a calf complaint.
However, both players have trained fully this week and come into contention to face Ipswich.
Andrew Davies and Barry Nicholson picked up knocks in last week's 3-1 defeat at Southampton but remain hopeful of recovering in time.
Long-term injury absentees Liam Chilvers, Neal Trotman and Wayne Henderson played for the reserves in midweek and are edging closer to a first-team return.
Thatcher
Ben Thatcher has emerged as a major doubt for Ipswich's Lancashire trip to Preston.
The former Tottenham and Man City defender sustained a foot injury in last weekend's 3-1 victory at QPR.
Danny Haynes (hamstring) is likely to remain sidelined although his injury is not as serious as first thought.
Defender Ivan Campo is closing in on a first-team return after returning to full training this week.
The Spaniard has been out of action with a calf strain since the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday last month.
Goalkeeper Shane Supple will return to the bench having failed to secure a loan move to Grimsby.
