Newell banned for Posh

Newell was sent off late on in the win at Leyton Orient last weekend and he will serve a one-match ban against the Lilywhites.

Posh will once again check on Marcus Maddison, who is still struggling with an ankle injury. With Newell missing out, Maddison, if fit, could return to the team as a like-for-like replacement on the left side of a midfield diamond.

Elsewhere, Jon Taylor is making good progress in his recovery from knee surgery and the winger could be back in the Peterborough squad for the home game against Colchester on January 10.

Simon Grayson looks set to shuffle his Preston pack on their return to Sky Bet League One action.

The Lilywhites chief rested Chris Humphrey, Neil Kilkenny, John Welsh, Kevin Davies and Paul Gallagher for the win over Notts County in midweek and must decide if any of that quintet deserve a recall.

Full-back David Buchanan faces a late fitness test on the hamstring injury which has kept him out of back-to-back fixtures, while Bailey Wright's return from a groin injury is likely to come later in the festive period.

Andy Little (hamstring) made his first start in midweek following a hamstring injury but attackers Joe Garner and Jordan Hugill (both knee) remain absent.