03-10-2025, 14:14
Team News
Paul Heckingbottom should have the same set of players available to him as he had on Tuesday night, with the addition of Andrew Hughes who has served his one-match suspension.
Brad Potts has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury. The midfielder was making positive progress and returned to full training last week, however his comeback will now be delayed.
Jordan Thompson is starting to do more work on the ball, although the Northern Ireland international is still a way off making his PNE debut. Robbie Brady and Will Keane also remain sidelined.
The Visitors
Since their Play-Off success last season which saw a return to the Championship for the first time since 2020, Charlton Athletic have acclimatised well to life back in the second tier.
The Addicks have taken 12 points from their opening eight fixtures and have claimed wins against Watford, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.
To help them make the step up, Nathan Jones’ side were busy in the summer transfer window, adding a number of players with experience at this level, including Amari’i Bell, Thomas Kaminski and James Bree.
Match Officials
Referee: James Linington
Assistant Referees: James Wilson and Conor Brown
Fourth Official: Scott Oldham
James Linington will take charge of Saturday’s fixture. Linington last officiated a North End match on the final day of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season, when a draw with Bristol City secured safety.
So far this campaign, Linington has refereed two matches and shown eight yellow cards.
THE BOSS
Paul Heckingbottom discussed the tight margins of the Championship and the need for his North End team to fight for every little advantage they can find.
It was a relatively unique midweek in the second tier, with eight of the 12 fixtures played ending in draws – showing how little there is between teams at this early stage of the season.
North End themselves have started the campaign well, taking 13 points from the opening eight matches, but the manager is conscious of having to take advantage of opportunities when they have them.
Hecky Talks Championship Margins And Charlton AthleticPaul Heckingbottom spoke about the tight margins of the Championship and previewed the visit of Charlton Athletic.
Talking about those tight margins, Hecky said: “I say it all the time, but this week shows it more than ever. But again, that's what adds to my frustration. You don't have to be unbeaten for a certain amount of time, but you have to pick up wins. As soon as any team does that, they're going to fly up the league.
“I think all it does, the more games you play, it shows how the league’s shaping up in terms of opposition and where you rank in there.
“All that the extra fixtures do is reiterate what I've always said about how fine the margins are and then that just stresses again the importance of getting every little detail right and keep fighting for every little bit.”
North End will bring this latest block of fixtures to a close this weekend when Charlton Athletic come to Deepdale in the final match prior to the international break.
The Addicks, fresh from promotion last season, have made a positive start to life back in the Championship, and will be looking to continue that in Lancashire.
Asked about their start to the season, Hecky responded: “Very strong. There’s lots of similarities to us in certain ways. We know all about them because they’ve not changed too much in terms of style from when we played them in the cup last year and we know it was a real tough game but then they've been able to add to that.
“They've obviously gone on a really good, strong run after that and got themselves promoted and then been able to add to their squad. They’ve spent quite a bit of money on some good additions to their squad as well but additions who fit into what they're all about as a team.
“They've improved again from last season so no surprises that I'm seeing them performing how they are.”
Paul Heckingbottom should have the same set of players available to him as he had on Tuesday night, with the addition of Andrew Hughes who has served his one-match suspension.
Brad Potts has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury. The midfielder was making positive progress and returned to full training last week, however his comeback will now be delayed.
Jordan Thompson is starting to do more work on the ball, although the Northern Ireland international is still a way off making his PNE debut. Robbie Brady and Will Keane also remain sidelined.
The Visitors
Since their Play-Off success last season which saw a return to the Championship for the first time since 2020, Charlton Athletic have acclimatised well to life back in the second tier.
The Addicks have taken 12 points from their opening eight fixtures and have claimed wins against Watford, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.
To help them make the step up, Nathan Jones’ side were busy in the summer transfer window, adding a number of players with experience at this level, including Amari’i Bell, Thomas Kaminski and James Bree.
Match Officials
Referee: James Linington
Assistant Referees: James Wilson and Conor Brown
Fourth Official: Scott Oldham
James Linington will take charge of Saturday’s fixture. Linington last officiated a North End match on the final day of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season, when a draw with Bristol City secured safety.
So far this campaign, Linington has refereed two matches and shown eight yellow cards.
THE BOSS
Paul Heckingbottom discussed the tight margins of the Championship and the need for his North End team to fight for every little advantage they can find.
It was a relatively unique midweek in the second tier, with eight of the 12 fixtures played ending in draws – showing how little there is between teams at this early stage of the season.
North End themselves have started the campaign well, taking 13 points from the opening eight matches, but the manager is conscious of having to take advantage of opportunities when they have them.
Hecky Talks Championship Margins And Charlton AthleticPaul Heckingbottom spoke about the tight margins of the Championship and previewed the visit of Charlton Athletic.
Talking about those tight margins, Hecky said: “I say it all the time, but this week shows it more than ever. But again, that's what adds to my frustration. You don't have to be unbeaten for a certain amount of time, but you have to pick up wins. As soon as any team does that, they're going to fly up the league.
“I think all it does, the more games you play, it shows how the league’s shaping up in terms of opposition and where you rank in there.
“All that the extra fixtures do is reiterate what I've always said about how fine the margins are and then that just stresses again the importance of getting every little detail right and keep fighting for every little bit.”
North End will bring this latest block of fixtures to a close this weekend when Charlton Athletic come to Deepdale in the final match prior to the international break.
The Addicks, fresh from promotion last season, have made a positive start to life back in the Championship, and will be looking to continue that in Lancashire.
Asked about their start to the season, Hecky responded: “Very strong. There’s lots of similarities to us in certain ways. We know all about them because they’ve not changed too much in terms of style from when we played them in the cup last year and we know it was a real tough game but then they've been able to add to that.
“They've obviously gone on a really good, strong run after that and got themselves promoted and then been able to add to their squad. They’ve spent quite a bit of money on some good additions to their squad as well but additions who fit into what they're all about as a team.
“They've improved again from last season so no surprises that I'm seeing them performing how they are.”
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