Preston lineup vs. Aston Villa: Predicted XI for FA Cup quarter-final amid selection crisis

Preston North End head coach Paul Heckingbottom will be working around a crisis of sorts for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Aston Villa at Deepdale.

The Championship side are guaranteed to be without seven players this weekend, as Sam Greenwood - sent off against Portsmouth in their last Championship game - and Ryan Ledson, who has picked up two FA Cup yellow cards, are both suspended.

Meanwhile, on-loan Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden is unable to face his parent club, while Ryan Porteous is also ineligible, having represented Watford in the earlier rounds of the competition.

In terms of injuries, Jack Whatmough is not expected to play again this season due to a calf problem, while Ali McCann (calf) and Brad Potts (hamstring) are still out too, but Milutin Osmajic has shaken off a hip problem and is available.

Heckingbottom is therefore down to the bare bones in defence in particular, so he will likely have no choice but to start the seldom-seen Patrick Bauer, who has played just 66 minutes all season long.

In brighter news, Jordan Storey has recovered from a knock and should step in for Kesler-Hayden at right-back, while Freddie Woodman, Lewis Gibson, Liam Lindsay and Robbie Brady will complete the back five.

Midfield absentees should lead to Heckingbottom starting Ben Whiteman and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen behind Stefan Thordarson, while Will Keane and a fit-again Osmajic should form the two-strong strikeforce.

Preston North End possible starting lineup: Woodman; Storey, Gibson, Lindsay, Bauer, Brady; Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen; Thordarson; Keane, Osmajic

> Click here to see how Aston Villa could line up for the quarter-final