Paul Heckingbottom defended Freddie Woodman after the Preston goalkeeper’s mistake in a 1-1 draw with Oxford in the Championship. The 27-year-old miscued his pass out from the back and gifted Ruben Rodrigues a 21st-minute opener that was later cancelled out by Will Keane in the 69th minute.

“I thought he was great today,” said Heckingbottom. “When we lost the ball in the first half he was one I thought still had that freshness and energy to go and react, try press and win the ball back. One or two others, I thought the games had taken that snap out of their legs.”

Paul Heckingbottom has set a firm stance on the potential sale of Emil Riis Jakobsen to Sheffield United this January. The Preston North End boss admitted that he wants to tie the Danish attacker down to a new contract when questioned by the Lancashire Post about the rumoured interest.