09-01-2025, 20:21
The Fitness Test
Paul Heckingbottom confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Jordan Storey has been ill all week and will therefore be a doubt for Saturday.
Brad Potts and Robbie Brady both remain sidelined, however the manager is hoping to be able to reintroduce them to training next week.
New signing Lewis Gibson will go into contention to make his PNE debut, following his arrival from Plymouth Argyle last Friday.
The Addicks
Charlton Athletic arrive at Deepdale in fine form, having picked up 11 points from their last five matches, with that run including a 5-0 away victory over Northampton Town and a 2-1 win against high-flying Wycombe Wanderers.
Managed by Nathan Jones, the Addicks currently sit 11th in the League One table and seven points outside of the Play-Off places.
They have a squad which boasts plenty of Championship experience, including promotion winner with Luton Town, Luke Berry, who has netted twice against PNE in his career.
The Officials
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Assistant Referees: Greg Read and Matthew McGrath
Fourth Official: Ross Joyce
Ruebyn Ricardo will take charge of his first ever North End fixture on Saturday.
Ricardo, who refereed his first Championship match on New Year’s Day, has been the main official for 20 matches so far this season, showing 104 yellow cards and three reds in those games.
Heck
Paul Heckingbottom says he’s always enjoyed cup games during his career and feels a cup run can go hand in hand with success in the league.
North End enter the FA Cup at the third round stage on Saturday, facing League One side Charlton Athletic.
They’ll arrive at Deepdale in good form, having taken 11 points from a possible 15, so it’s a test PNE will have to be ready for.
Hecky said: “I think cup games certainly have a different feel to them. I've always enjoyed cup games. I think the FA Cup is different again to the League Cup, the prestige of it and what comes with it.
“Charlton are a strong team. A big League One club. Their form recently has been good. Nathan [Jones] has got them playing similar to what he did when he was at Luton.
“I know he will have done his homework on us as well. It's going to be a tough game, a really good game, but we have to make sure we make it tough for them as well.”
The Lilywhites have already enjoyed a mini cup run so far this season, having made it to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, when Arsenal were the visitors to Deepdale.
There’s always discourse about whether additional cup games can be detrimental or beneficial, and Hecky is certainly in the camp of the latter.
He said: “When we got promoted with Barnsley, we also won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. When we got promoted with Sheffield United, we got to the FA Cup semi-finals. I think they can go hand in hand.
“You've just got to play every game the same; try and win the game. I'm a big believer that you do treat them different and get the most out of them.
“It can sometimes be a welcome break from the slog of the league. Sometimes it can be a distraction but a positive distraction.
“I just think there's a different feel to them and no matter what happens in a cup game, there's moments in them which are totally different to league games.”
Given the differences in divisions, North End will be the favourites to progress to the next stage, however the gaffer is all too aware that football isn’t always as straightforward as that.
On the gap in quality between the Championship and League One, Hecky said: “In cup games, it's nothing. One-off cup games, it's zero. I think over an extended period, like a league campaign, you can feel the gap because you're consistently performing against teams that have been used to the level.
“But in one-off cup games, no. I think differences in leagues, particularly one league, mean absolutely nothing and the moment you start thinking that way then you're in danger if you're the team in the higher league.”
THE JONES BOY
Nathan Jones is relishing Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie against Preston North End.
The Addicks progressed to the third round with victories at Southend United and Walsall and will now pit their wits against the Sky Bet Championship side at Deepdale.
“We're going there to try and win the game," said Jones. "I’ve never gone into a game looking to shut up shop, thinking a team is better and we can’t win, never. Preston are a perennial Championship side - every year they are competitive.
"I know a lot of people there, from the hierarchy to the management and players," he added. "They are a good Championship side. We have to raise our game for the upturn in quality and we’re really excited for it. There's a bit of romance in it; I’d rather be going to Preston than Bolton for example, not because I think it's easier but I don't want to prepare for another 'League One' game. I want to give the players a different challenge. We are excited by the game and really looking forward to the weekend.”
The gaffer also provided an update on the fitness of Kayne Ramsay, who rejoined group training at Sparrows Lane this week.
“We want our good players to be back in the side and Kayne is one of those, so we want him back as soon as possible," Jones explained. "It’s been a tough ride for him since he came in, getting injured in the first game, but that can happen.
He came back and showed what he could do. He had an excellent pre-season where he was fantastic, and he started the season wonderfully. Then he got one of them innocuous injuries that was relatively serious. Praise the lord it wasn’t as serious as it could have been, and hopefully by the end of the month we'll have him back and firing.”
MACS VIEW
Use to be the highlight of the season up there with Boxing Day fixtures, now it's played on five days starting tonight Thursday, there's no replays because the Premier League players are so tired.
But come Staurday we will all be oo f'cup, interesting game this, depends on whatever sides both managers decide to pplay, for us expect Gibson to play would also like to see Pat Bauer given a rare game, hazard a guess Ched will be in the starting line up.
Going to be a bit Baltic, wrap up warm job
![[Image: 2048.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cbb5452436c22ac0a6a791bdef267ddb02668394/0_0_2048_1280/master/2048.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Paul Heckingbottom confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Jordan Storey has been ill all week and will therefore be a doubt for Saturday.
Brad Potts and Robbie Brady both remain sidelined, however the manager is hoping to be able to reintroduce them to training next week.
New signing Lewis Gibson will go into contention to make his PNE debut, following his arrival from Plymouth Argyle last Friday.
The Addicks
Charlton Athletic arrive at Deepdale in fine form, having picked up 11 points from their last five matches, with that run including a 5-0 away victory over Northampton Town and a 2-1 win against high-flying Wycombe Wanderers.
Managed by Nathan Jones, the Addicks currently sit 11th in the League One table and seven points outside of the Play-Off places.
They have a squad which boasts plenty of Championship experience, including promotion winner with Luton Town, Luke Berry, who has netted twice against PNE in his career.
The Officials
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Assistant Referees: Greg Read and Matthew McGrath
Fourth Official: Ross Joyce
Ruebyn Ricardo will take charge of his first ever North End fixture on Saturday.
Ricardo, who refereed his first Championship match on New Year’s Day, has been the main official for 20 matches so far this season, showing 104 yellow cards and three reds in those games.
Heck
Paul Heckingbottom says he’s always enjoyed cup games during his career and feels a cup run can go hand in hand with success in the league.
North End enter the FA Cup at the third round stage on Saturday, facing League One side Charlton Athletic.
They’ll arrive at Deepdale in good form, having taken 11 points from a possible 15, so it’s a test PNE will have to be ready for.
Hecky said: “I think cup games certainly have a different feel to them. I've always enjoyed cup games. I think the FA Cup is different again to the League Cup, the prestige of it and what comes with it.
“Charlton are a strong team. A big League One club. Their form recently has been good. Nathan [Jones] has got them playing similar to what he did when he was at Luton.
“I know he will have done his homework on us as well. It's going to be a tough game, a really good game, but we have to make sure we make it tough for them as well.”
The Lilywhites have already enjoyed a mini cup run so far this season, having made it to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, when Arsenal were the visitors to Deepdale.
There’s always discourse about whether additional cup games can be detrimental or beneficial, and Hecky is certainly in the camp of the latter.
He said: “When we got promoted with Barnsley, we also won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. When we got promoted with Sheffield United, we got to the FA Cup semi-finals. I think they can go hand in hand.
“You've just got to play every game the same; try and win the game. I'm a big believer that you do treat them different and get the most out of them.
“It can sometimes be a welcome break from the slog of the league. Sometimes it can be a distraction but a positive distraction.
“I just think there's a different feel to them and no matter what happens in a cup game, there's moments in them which are totally different to league games.”
Given the differences in divisions, North End will be the favourites to progress to the next stage, however the gaffer is all too aware that football isn’t always as straightforward as that.
On the gap in quality between the Championship and League One, Hecky said: “In cup games, it's nothing. One-off cup games, it's zero. I think over an extended period, like a league campaign, you can feel the gap because you're consistently performing against teams that have been used to the level.
“But in one-off cup games, no. I think differences in leagues, particularly one league, mean absolutely nothing and the moment you start thinking that way then you're in danger if you're the team in the higher league.”
THE JONES BOY
Nathan Jones is relishing Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie against Preston North End.
The Addicks progressed to the third round with victories at Southend United and Walsall and will now pit their wits against the Sky Bet Championship side at Deepdale.
“We're going there to try and win the game," said Jones. "I’ve never gone into a game looking to shut up shop, thinking a team is better and we can’t win, never. Preston are a perennial Championship side - every year they are competitive.
"I know a lot of people there, from the hierarchy to the management and players," he added. "They are a good Championship side. We have to raise our game for the upturn in quality and we’re really excited for it. There's a bit of romance in it; I’d rather be going to Preston than Bolton for example, not because I think it's easier but I don't want to prepare for another 'League One' game. I want to give the players a different challenge. We are excited by the game and really looking forward to the weekend.”
The gaffer also provided an update on the fitness of Kayne Ramsay, who rejoined group training at Sparrows Lane this week.
“We want our good players to be back in the side and Kayne is one of those, so we want him back as soon as possible," Jones explained. "It’s been a tough ride for him since he came in, getting injured in the first game, but that can happen.
He came back and showed what he could do. He had an excellent pre-season where he was fantastic, and he started the season wonderfully. Then he got one of them innocuous injuries that was relatively serious. Praise the lord it wasn’t as serious as it could have been, and hopefully by the end of the month we'll have him back and firing.”
MACS VIEW
Use to be the highlight of the season up there with Boxing Day fixtures, now it's played on five days starting tonight Thursday, there's no replays because the Premier League players are so tired.
But come Staurday we will all be oo f'cup, interesting game this, depends on whatever sides both managers decide to pplay, for us expect Gibson to play would also like to see Pat Bauer given a rare game, hazard a guess Ched will be in the starting line up.
Going to be a bit Baltic, wrap up warm job
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?