Preston’s Chris Humphrey out for the rest of the season

Preston winger Chris Humphrey has suffered a cruel blow after it was confirmed that the 28-year-old will miss the rest of the season due to a stress-fracture shin injury

Humphrey joined Preston in 2013 and has made 81 appearances for the Lillywhites. The Jamaican international has not played since October in an attempt to shake off the injury but it now appears worse than first feared.

Preston boss Simon Grayson told the club’s official website “Chris has had some bad news. He will probably miss the rest of the season.

“The injury that he picked up – which was a bit of a freak one – we had thought might heal with rest, but he had some scans the other day and it has not healed, so he will have some sort of operation on that which will unfortunately rule him out for the rest of the season.

“It is difficult to take, but unfortunately it happens in football. We will give both him and Stevie May the best opportunity to be back with us for pre-season next year.

“It is a blow to us, but we will get them back fitter, stronger and better.”

Preston are currently sitting in 16th place in the Championship and face a tricky visit to Elland Road on Sunday.