Boss laments loss of Frenchman

Preston appear to have failed in the race to sign Coventry defender Elliott Ward before the loan deadline.

Alan Irvine was understood to be battling with Sheffield United for the signature of the experienced centre-back but the deadline came and went on Thursday without the move being finalised.

Irvine was shopping for reinforcements after revealing Youl Mawene has torn the medial ligament in his right knee and will be ruled out of action for 'months'.

Mawene underwent a scan on Wednesday after a collision with Marlon Harewood and Andrew Lonergan at the end of the first half of Monday night's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at Deepdale.

The North End boss said: "Youl has torn the medial ligament, which is a big blow.

"Thankfully there was no damage to the cruciate ligament, so while it's a bad injury, it's not as bad as it could have been.

"He'll be out for quite a while, how long it takes him to get back we'll have to wait and see.

"But we're talking months rather than weeks."