Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe has confirmed that Manchester United loanee Alvaro Fernandez's ankle injury is not as bad as first feared.
The Spaniard, who joined the Championship club on a season-long loan deal last month, was forced off at half-time during Tuesday evening's 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup. The youngster rolled his ankle in the closing stages of the first half and did not remerge after the break.
It was a bitterly disappointing blow for the left-back as he had marked his first start for the Lilywhites with two excellent assists, with midfielder Alistair McCann the benefactor on each occasion. Fernandez had stepped off the bench in each of their opening two league matches.
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Speaking immediately after Tuesday evening's contest in West Yorkshire, Lowe confirmed that he had taken the United loanee off as a precaution, so as not to make the injury worse. And issuing a fresh update ahead of Saturday's Championship clash with Luton Town, the North End chief has suggested that Fernandez could feature, confirming it is not as serious as some felt it could have been.
"He's fine, he's champing at the bit to get out on the grass but he's with the physios today [Thursday], we'll give him every chance to be available for Saturday," said Lowe.
"He's walking around on it with no strappings so it's not as bad as people may have first feared."
The youngster, who is under contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2024, wowed supporters with his first-half showing, as well as earning special praise from Lowe. Fernandez was deployed in the left wing-back berth and excelled on what was his first senior start in English football.
Lowe added: "He's an immaculate kid, though, isn't he? Everything about him. He's asked questions on a daily basis, is playing a different role to what he is probably used to at Manchester United - as a left wing-back for us, not left-back.
"The competition with him and Robbie Brady down that side, let's have it right, he is learning off one of the best - who has played in the Premiership. He is educating him all the time, even before the game and after the game.
"He is a fantastic talent - you don't play for Real Madrid and Manchester United if you are not any good. We knew that when we saw him, we knew he'd bring something different to us and he certainly did that."
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