Plymouth Argyle Vs Preston North End
 |
 |
 |
|
DATE: Sat 6 Mar 2010
TIME: 15:00
VENUE: Home Park
|
Plymouth defender Reda Johnson is facing a race to be fit for their clash against Preston at Home Park.
The centre-half was substituted during the second half of Argyle's 4-3 defeat at Sheffield United last week with a groin injury and he remains a doubt.
Argyle boss Paul Mariner's options could be boosted by the return to fitness of defender Gary Sawyer following a knee injury which kept him out of the Bramall Lane encounter.
If Sawyer does make it he could go straight back in at left-back, which would then see Chris Barker switch to a central role to cover Johnson's absence.
Plymouth go into the game five points adrift of safety and without a win in three and if Mariner's side are to launch any sort of survival bid, they will see this as a must-win clash.
Preston boss Darren Ferguson is boosted by the return of midfielder Richard Chaplow.
Chaplow has been suffering from a groin injury related to the double hernia operation he underwent in November.
He returned to full fitness last week but missed the 3-0 home win over Cardiff to attend the birth of his second child.
Paul Coutts was sent off against the Bluebirds and now serves a one-match ban, so Chaplow is poised to replace him in the centre of midfield.
On-loan Manchester United youngster Matt James is hoping to be passed fit after an Achilles strain but fellow Old Trafford loanee Danny Welbeck could remain sidelined with a knee injury.
Skipper Callum Davidson could feature after recovering from head and muscle injuries.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.
