Heidar Helguson is pushing to make his first start since rejoining Watford almost two months ago when Preston arrive at Vicarage Road.

The on-loan QPR striker returned as a substitute in last weekend's 5-0 defeat at West Brom, his first run-out since suffering a calf

injury on his second debut for the Hornets, also from the bench, against Leicester in September.

But boss Malky Mackay will be without young midfielder Ross Jenkins, who this week underwent a back operation which will sideline him for at least a month.

Club captain Jay DeMerit is still missing following eye surgery, but the American centre-half hopes to be back before Christmas.

Rookie goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, 16, will be on the bench again if Richard Lee does not recover from his knee injury.

Preston skipper Callum Davidson is hoping to make his long-awaited return.

The Scotland defender has been out of action since September after tearing his hamstring while on international duty, but has now returned to full training.

Davidson told the Lancashire Evening Post: "I'm fully fit. I was last week, now it's just a case of waiting to get back into the team or squad.

"The last two months have been frustrating, although I've got back to fitness a bit quicker than I expected which is a bonus."

Barry Nicholson remains a long-term absentee with a broken leg, but manager Alan Irvine expects everyone else to be fit, with Richard Chaplow set to shake off a shoulder injury he picked up in last week's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Veliche Shumulikoski, Jon Parkin and Chris Sedgwick all featured as second-half substitutes in last weekend's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace and will hope to earn a recall to the starting XI.