Preston North End have a decision to make in goal when they play against Bristol City at the weekend.
Regular goalkeeper Declan Rudd, 29, is expected to be out injured for several months following a meniscus knee injury sustained in training recently, requiring an operation, a knock that has seen the Lilywhites go on to recruit Daniel Iversen on loan from Leicester City.
Rudd has played every league game this campaign bar the first after a minor pre-season injury. He helped Alex Neil's side to a clean sheet when City visited Deepdale last month, though he appeared to pick up a knock in the first half that required lengthy treatment before carrying on playing and helping the home side to the win.
In his stead, Preston signed 23-year-old Iversen to fill in, though the Denmark U21 player was left out for the Lancastrians' FA Cup 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers last weekend.
Instead, former Bristol City transfer target (from when the shot-stopper was due to leave Middlesbrough in 2017) Connor Ripley was in goal, as he was for the first game in 2020/21, and despite letting in four goals against the Chairboys, it looks like Ripley, 27, may well get the nod to play in front of the Atyeo and South Stands on Saturday.
Neil explained after Saturday's game: “Daniel did the one session on Friday after signing the day before [from the Foxes].
“However, Connor has been waiting for an opportunity and a chance. I actually felt a bit for Connor. The scoreline didn’t look good on him but I didn’t think he did a lot wrong.
“He was the last guy I would point the finger at for the defeat, that was not a concern for me.”
North End have not lost in 15 meetings against City now, following the 1-0 loss on 18 December.
Daniel Johnson's first-half penalty settled the last meeting but the Robins may feel that following that closely fought game, and being at home, now may finally be their time to take the three points on offer.
City will have Alfie Mawson available at the back for this game but are still missing some 10 other players due to injury.
The two teams are separated by just one point in the table but Bristol City will hope to improve on a record of four defeats in their last five league games.
