Preston v Bury preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Preston North End and Bury at Deepdale.

Preston could welcome back top scorer Neil Mellor.

Mellor has been sidelined since suffering knee ligament damage in the December win over MK Dons, but the former Liverpool striker has trained all week and will be hopeful of playing some part against the Shakers.

North End boss Graham Westley has decisions to make in defence after his side adapted well to an early reshuffle in Tuesday's goalless draw at Carlisle. Daniel Devine was substituted after collecting an early booking during the occasionally feisty Brunton Park clash, with QPR loanee Max Ehmer introduced in his place after 26 minutes.

Devine's fellow academy product Bailey Wright reverted to centre-back with Ehmer filling in at left-back and the latter could be in line for a full Lilywhites debut against the Shakers.

Arsenal youngster Chuks Aneke is available to make his Lilywhites debut after joining until the end of the season on loan deadline day.

Paul Coutts returned to the North End midfield against the Cumbrians following a thigh injury and is expected to keep his place as Danny Mayor and Paul Parry continue to struggle with knocks.

Bury are set to be without Steven Schumacher and Lenell John-Lewis once more as they attempt to arrest their alarming slide.

Shakers skipper Schumacher and forward John-Lewis are working their way back towards fitness from respective hamstring and thigh injuries, but the Deepdale clash is expected to come too soon for the duo.

Peter Sweeney must serve the final game of his three-match suspension for a red card in the closing stages of the 4-1 defeat at Carlisle.

The reverse at Brunton Park was the second of three consecutive 4-1 defeats for Richie Barker's side.

They stopped the rot with a goalless draw against Scunthorpe in midweek but remain without a win in 12 games. The clean sheet against the Iron on Tuesday night was Bury's first shutout since November's 1-0 victory over North End at Gigg Lane.