PrestonPreston North Endvs.Magpies

While Preston have one pre-season friendly under their belts, Magpies are playing this fixture to aid their preparations for the Europa Conference league qualifying rounds.

Match preview

Having squandered a chance to reach the Championship playoffs in 2022-23 by collecting just one point from a possible 15 during the run-in, Ryan Lowe has a major job on his hands to lift the club ahead of the new campaign.

As it stands, Lowe largely has a similar squad at his disposal, Liverpool loanee Calvin Ramsey the only arrival and Josh Onomah and Daniel Johnson the sole notable departures on free transfers as well as loan players returning to their parent clubs.

Lowe took the opportunity on Saturday to take a look at the players that remained, separate teams being named for the first and second halves at Bamber Bridge.

The first-half team, the stronger on paper, put Preston into a 1-0 lead before their replacements ran riot after the break, scoring a further six goals without reply.

Youngsters Jacob Slater and Kitt Nelson both netted two goals apiece to put themselves into Lowe's thinking for this game, which takes place in the Spanish town of San Pedro del Pinatar.

From the perspective of Magpies, they are participating in their first fixture of the summer after earning a third-placed finish in the Gibraltar Football League during 2022-23.

Alfonso Cortijo's side finished 15 points adrift of champion Lincoln Red Imps, yet they were able to win the most significant silverware in their history by beating the same side on penalties in the Rock Cup final.

Magpies can now look forward to experiencing the Europa Conference League, albeit in the first qualifying round where they face Irish side Dundalk.

At that stage of the competition, it is one of the toughest draws that they could have been given, but Cortijo will be grateful for the chance for his side to test themselves after a team of Preston's calibre before hosting the first leg of that tie on July 13.

Preston North End friendly form:

W

Team News

There is potential for Lowe to select a similar Preston team to the one which started from the opening whistle at Bamber Bridge as he looks to avoid over-excursion.

With Ramsey not in a position to feature at this stage, the only alterations could involve one or two younger players replacing the ones which featured alongside senior players on Saturday.

There is an element of uncertainty surrounding the make-up of the Magpies squad, but Cortijo may want to see his best players in action.

With the starting XI that featured in the Rock Cup final still at the club, the same team could theoretically be selected for this contest.

Five Magpies players were part of the Gibraltar squad which played France and Republic of Ireland in Euro 2024 qualifiers last month.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Diaby, Bauer, Slater; Potts, Ledson, Leigh, Brady; Woodburn; Nelson, O'Neill

Magpies possible starting lineup:

Hankins; Joe, Zuniga, Diaz, Gonzalez, Ballantine, Bent, Coombes, Storer, Casciaro, Bautista

We say: Preston North End 3-1 Magpies

While Magpies obviously have some pedigree having earned a spot in Europe, it is difficult to make a case for them troubling Preston. The English side will have only benefitted from getting some game time into their legs, leading us to predict a relatively comfortable victory.

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