Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of the Leicester versus Preston North End EFL Championship showdown. Leicester will be hopeful of taking advantage of an out-of-form Preston side and ultimately reigniting their hopes of survival. Meanwhile, the visitors have an opportunity to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since early January. Paul Heckinbottom’s side haven’t been at their best since the turn of the year, which makes this Good Friday encounter all the more interesting.
EFL Championship: Team News and Predicted Lineups for Leicester vs Preston
Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Venue: King Power Stadium
Last meeting: Preston 2-1 Leicester (August 16, 2025).
Referee: Ben Speedie
Current odds: Leicester 5/6, Preston 3/1, Draw 11/4.
Leicester Team News
Ahead of the Good Friday clash, Rowett discussed the injury concerns affecting his squad. Jordan James came off early for Wales, which caused huge concern among the fanbase. “He’s obviously come back for treatment,” Rowett explained on James. “He landed a little bit awkwardly. It wasn’t anywhere near perhaps what one or two people felt at the time, which was that it might be something more serious.”
Outside of this, more and more players are coming back. Rowett said: “We’ve got a few players coming back. Jannik [Vestergaard] has trained well for a period of time now. Aaron Ramsey has trained well and trained consistently.” Harry Souttar is also making pleasing progress as he clocked in 45 minutes for the under-21s.
These names returning into the picture could be pivotal for Leicester’s fight for safety. It seems competition for places has been lacking for much of this season.
Preston North End Team News
As for the visitors, they have been out of form for much of 2026. They are now 10 points off the play-offs, which is a surprise given their brilliant start. In the reverse fixture, North End looked a level above the Foxes, and that was when the likes of James Justin and Bilal El Khannouss were in the squad.
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However, they have had their own injury issues to contend with. For Instance, Lewis Gibson hasn’t been available for almost a month now, but he could be back for the trip to the King Power. Heckingbottom said: “Yeah, the only one who’s obviously further on and probably 100% now is Gibbo. He’s virtually there. He’s done everything with us, he’s really confident now, and yeah, he’s in a position where there is nothing holding him back now.”
In terms of absences, a number of players are likely to miss the clash. Jamal Lewis is out for the season, whilst the game comes to quickly for Alistair McCann, Robbie Brady and Callum Lang as they may return in the coming weeks.
Leicester Predicted Lineup
Stolarczyk
Periera
Okoli
Lascelles
Thomas
Skipp
Winks
Fatawu
Mukasa
Mavididi
Daka
Preston North End Predicted Lineup
Iversen
Storey
Lindsay
Hughes
Valentin
Whiteman
Devine
Small
Moran
Osmajic
Dobbin
Featured Image Credit
IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
