Preston North End will get their 2022/23 Championship season underway on Saturday with a short trip to the DW Stadium to face Wigan Athletic.
In The Dressing Room
Manager Ryan Lowe has almost a fully fit squad to choose from for this fixture, with only Sean Maguire currently missing, and he’s not expected to be available until mid-August.
The gaffer has plenty of options all over the pitch, though, and could hand out competitive debuts to up to six players this weekend.
While most of the signings have featured during pre-season, Álvaro Fernández and Troy Parrott could feature for the first time in a PNE shirt in this fixture.
A Look At Our Hosts
Wigan Athletic will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign after being crowned champions of League One last season, finishing on 92 points.
The Latics spent almost the entirety of 2021/22 occupying a top-two spot, but it wasn’t until the final day that their promotion and title was secured.
They enter the new campaign – their first in the Championship since 2019/20 – with pretty much the same squad as last season, with former Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nyambe their only addition of the summer window so far.
Going Head-To-Head
Games played: 47
PNE wins: 20
Draws: 14
Wigan Athletic wins: 13
Last meeting: Wigan Athletic 1-2 PNE, 8th February 2020
One To Watch
Former PNE loanee Will Keane had the best year of his senior career during the 2021/22 campaign, hitting 26 goals in League One and finishing the season top of the division’s goalscoring chart.
Since his time at Deepdale in 2015, when his only league goal came in a 2-0 win over Burnley, he’s spent time with Hull City and Ipswich Town, but a move to the DW Stadium has really brought his career to life.
His form with the Latics has earned himself a spot in the Republic of Ireland setup, and he’ll be hoping he can continue last season’s form during the upcoming campaign, despite the step up to the second tier.
Match Officials
Bobby Madley will referee his first PNE fixture in over five years on Saturday.
He last took charge of a North End fixture in January 2017, when Arsenal came out narrow victors in the third round of the FA Cup at Deepdale.
Madley – whose brother Andy has refereed PNE regularly over the years – officiated League One and Two games last season, but has been promoted to Select Group 2 ahead of the upcoming campaign.
So begins my 53rd season not sure what to expect this season, as per usual will be excluded by the media as not being one of the ones to watch.
Signings wise has been decent although possibly another couple could come in.
We have an over load in midfield which may annoy some players. As with last season we start with a newly promoted club, a local derby to boot against possible dark horses this season
After a couple of seasons fire fighting Latics are back in the Championship, they have a good manager and some decent players, this will not be easy.
No after match blog as still playing the summer game. Enjoy the ride, here we go again
Highlights are now on ITV 4 at 9 pm repeated on ITV at 11pm personally will miss the Quest show thought they did a great job
In The Dressing Room
Manager Ryan Lowe has almost a fully fit squad to choose from for this fixture, with only Sean Maguire currently missing, and he’s not expected to be available until mid-August.
The gaffer has plenty of options all over the pitch, though, and could hand out competitive debuts to up to six players this weekend.
While most of the signings have featured during pre-season, Álvaro Fernández and Troy Parrott could feature for the first time in a PNE shirt in this fixture.
A Look At Our Hosts
Wigan Athletic will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign after being crowned champions of League One last season, finishing on 92 points.
The Latics spent almost the entirety of 2021/22 occupying a top-two spot, but it wasn’t until the final day that their promotion and title was secured.
They enter the new campaign – their first in the Championship since 2019/20 – with pretty much the same squad as last season, with former Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nyambe their only addition of the summer window so far.
Going Head-To-Head
Games played: 47
PNE wins: 20
Draws: 14
Wigan Athletic wins: 13
Last meeting: Wigan Athletic 1-2 PNE, 8th February 2020
One To Watch
Former PNE loanee Will Keane had the best year of his senior career during the 2021/22 campaign, hitting 26 goals in League One and finishing the season top of the division’s goalscoring chart.
Since his time at Deepdale in 2015, when his only league goal came in a 2-0 win over Burnley, he’s spent time with Hull City and Ipswich Town, but a move to the DW Stadium has really brought his career to life.
His form with the Latics has earned himself a spot in the Republic of Ireland setup, and he’ll be hoping he can continue last season’s form during the upcoming campaign, despite the step up to the second tier.
Match Officials
Bobby Madley will referee his first PNE fixture in over five years on Saturday.
He last took charge of a North End fixture in January 2017, when Arsenal came out narrow victors in the third round of the FA Cup at Deepdale.
Madley – whose brother Andy has refereed PNE regularly over the years – officiated League One and Two games last season, but has been promoted to Select Group 2 ahead of the upcoming campaign.
So begins my 53rd season not sure what to expect this season, as per usual will be excluded by the media as not being one of the ones to watch.
Signings wise has been decent although possibly another couple could come in.
We have an over load in midfield which may annoy some players. As with last season we start with a newly promoted club, a local derby to boot against possible dark horses this season
After a couple of seasons fire fighting Latics are back in the Championship, they have a good manager and some decent players, this will not be easy.
No after match blog as still playing the summer game. Enjoy the ride, here we go again
Highlights are now on ITV 4 at 9 pm repeated on ITV at 11pm personally will miss the Quest show thought they did a great job
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?