Huddersfield Town vs Preston North End - Midfield dilemma for Huddersfield boss David Wagner

Huddersfield head coach David Wagner could be short of midfielders for the home Sky Bet Championship game against Preston.

Dean Whitehead remains sidelined due to a knee injury and Jonathan Hogg (thigh) will be monitored after missing last week's defeat at Brentford.

Emyr Huws (hamstring), has missed the last two games while another midfielder, Philip Billing (ankle), and goalkeeper Joe Murphy (ankle) are still out.

Striker Nahki Wells, forward Harry Bunn, winger Sean Scannell and midfielder Kyle Dempsey all started on the bench last week and are pushing for recalls.

Jordan Pickford will start in goal for Preston after his suspension was overturned.

The on-loan Sunderland stopper was sent off at Leeds last weekend and 34-year-old Chris Kirkland - now over a virus - was on standby to make his first appearance - but Pickford's ban was rescinded on Tuesday.

North End's players have Christmas Day off and Alan Browne, Daniel Johnson (both hamstring) and Paul Gallagher (groin) all need to be assessed, meaning Simon Grayson may have to shuffle his midfield around for two games in three days.

Jermaine Beckford, Stevie May (both knee) and Chris Humphrey (shin) are all long-term absentees.