Preston North End are in talks to sign defender Emir Karic from Austrian side Sturm Graz. (Football Insider, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is the first FA Cup meeting between Preston and Charlton since January 1966, with the Lilywhites winning a third round tie 3-2 at the Valley.
Since their last promotion to the Championship ahead of 2015-16, Preston have lost seven of their nine FA Cup third round ties, with the exceptions coming in 2017-18 (5-1 v Wycombe) and 2022-23 (3-1 v Huddersfield).
Preston have cooled their interest in Crystal Palace wide man Jeffrey Schlupp, who has fallen out of favour at Selhurst Park and has also been linked with Blackburn. (Lancashire Evening Post, external)
Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.
Image source, Getty ImagesNew signing Lewis Gibson could make his debut for Preston North End in their third round FA cup tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
The defender featured in 18 Championship games for Plymouth Argyle this season but made the move to North End earlier this month for a reported seven figure fee.
Midfielders Brad Potts and Robbie Brady are not fit to return though the weekend could see an appearance for experienced striker Ched Evans.
The former Wales international has been sidelined through injury since signing in June and has not yet featured for the first team.
However, the player-coach did score for the Under-21s on Tuesday against Blackburn Rovers, and manager Paul Heckingbottom has not ruled out a possible appearance against Charlton.
"He wants to focus on playing, he feels like he's in limbo," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We will see how he does because you never know, he may be needed."
Preston North End welcome Oxford United to Deepdale on Saturday for just the second time in 25 years (15:00 GMT).
Both sides dwell in the bottom half of the table but did win to end 2024 on a positive note, each taking two wins in their final two fixtures.
However, while Oxford triumphed over Millwall at the start of 2025, Preston suffered a 3-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion.
A win for either side would see them pull further clear of danger but Preston will have to do something they have never done against a Gary Rowett side - win.
Preston North End will host Oxford United in any competition for the first time since March 2000 in the third tier, when they won 3-1 thanks to a brace from Brett Angell and a goal from Jon Macken.
Oxford United have won five of their last seven league meetings with Preston North End (L2), winning the reverse fixture 3-1 earlier this season.
Preston North End are unbeaten in each of their last six home league games (W2 D4), last going seven without loss at Deepdale in April 2023 (W4 D3).
Oxford United are winless in their last 10 matches played on a Saturday (D4 L6), since beating Stoke in September last year.
Oxford United manager Gary Rowett is unbeaten in 14 previous league meetings with Preston North End (W8 D6), the only opponent he has faced more than seven times without ever losing.
Steve Eyre
BBC Radio Lancashire summariser
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, Rex FeaturesPreston perked up at West Brom after four second-half substitutions, including Duane Holmes (left)
I was glad half-time came when it did against West Brom. Any poor decisions in selection were corrected with a better performance in the second half, led by Ryan Ledson with his attitude and his goal and with Ben Whiteman coming on in the middle of the pitch - everything he did was correct.
I imagine there was a relaxed feel about the substitutes because they weren't part of the first-half mess.
The manager was part of that too because he set the team up and chose it, but the pat on the back for half-time goes to him, for mending it.
A couple of new faces would be ideal but the players are not doing enough with their consistency levels to keep a structure and settled team to give the manager fewer decisions to make.
They are putting in a performance and good victory like at weekend, and then serve up something like this for the first 45 minutes.
Image source, Getty ImagesPaul Heckingbottom refused to use the illness which has affected his squad for their comprehensive defeat at West Brom, which had followed consecutive victories.
The Lilywhites were without defender Andrew Hughes for the 3-1 loss at The Hawthorns, while the manager indicated that Jack Whatmough and Jordan Storey, who both played a full 90 minutes, had also been affected by a bug.
North End had beaten Hull and Sheffield Wednesday over the Christmas period, conceding just one goal in the process, but were cut open by the Baggies in the first-half, with Josh Maja scoring twice and Callum Styles also on target.
When asked about Hughes' absence, Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's an excuse but we've had a little bit of illness going round.
"We had Pottsy [Brad Potts] previously and then Will [Keane], Sam [Greenwood] before the Boxing Day game, then Ali McCann before the last game. Then it was Hughesy, Jack and Jordan, really late.
"They wanted to play, which I expect. You can say it's an excuse but it's not - the same players were on the pitch and played a lot better second half.
"The moment you start letting players have an excuse to not perform, you're letting everyone else down. There were issues to deal with, definitely, but the three goals we conceded were terrible."
Dan Jewell
BBC Radio Lancashire
Image source, Getty ImagesPreston boss Paul Heckingbottom will be hoping to put his stamp on his squad during the January transfer window
What do Preston need in January?
It feels like there needs to be a bit of a refresh in this window. Paul Heckingbottom came in with only enough time to add Josh Bowler in the summer window and since has set about assessing what he does and doesn't have.
I think fans have largely been encouraged but they haven't won enough games and I'm sure fresh blood could help to revitalise a squad with a core that has been together for the past few seasons.
What sort of business are they likely to do?
There will likely be an appetite from the fanbase, and probably the manager, to do some business. Wide areas have been mentioned as a possible target to allow Heckingbottom to play a back four instead of a back three and wing-backs, but North End's perennial issue is one of finance.
They've rarely been able to compete with the sort of money splashed around by some in the Championship so that may restrict things and a larger rebuild could be on the cards in the summer when contracts begin to expire.
Are there likely to be any notable departures?
If they will allow Heckingbottom to add then that could be a possibility. He seems to have established the players he wants to work with week-in, week-out now and that will inevitably leave some others on the fringes, so the key factor may be whether those not regularly involved have suitors to take them immediately.
How important is the transfer window likely to be in determining the success of their season?
Pace, especially defensively, has been singled out by some supporters as an area of concern and with the team not scoring a lot of goals so far this season then conceding fewer would be a welcome tonic.
A couple of good quality additions would definitely help and given the number of draws under Heckingbottom perhaps that little bit extra could help them turn one point into three and climb the table.
Preston North End welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Deepdale on Sunday in a fixture between two sides that played out notably different Boxing Day matches.
The Lilywhites eked out a 1-0 victory over Hull City to notch their first home win since October, while Wednesday stormed back from a three goal deficit to rescue a point away at 10-man Middlesbrough.
In the reverse of this fixture earlier this month, the two sides took a point apiece at Hillsborough.
Preston have only lost two of their last 24 home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W12 D10) but did lose 1-0 on December 29 last year to the Owls.
Sheffield Wednesday are looking to win consecutive away league games against Preston North End for the first time since December 1911.
Preston have lost their final league game in the last two years, including a 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last year. They last did so in more consecutive years between 2009 and 2012 (4).
Sheffield Wednesday are looking to end their calendar year with a win in three years in a row for the first time since doing so between 2004 and 2006.
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom has never won a Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday in five attempts (D3 L2).
