As Preston North End gear up to take on Stoke City in Saturday’s early kick-off, the match preparation will focus around key players and how to nullify their influence. 

These could be players who have a prolonged impact on the match or deliver in moments, either one needs to meticulously studied in order to best understand how to stop their influence. 

The Potters have a handful of players who can really take the game to Preston and cause havoc on Halloween. 

Will it be a trick or a treat for Preston? We will have to see come Saturday. 

Ethan Galbraith

The Northern Irish midfielder made the surprising move to the Bet365 Stadium in the summer, leaving his high-flying teammates at Swansea to reap the rewards for their faith under Vitor Matos.

While the 25-year-old is still enjoying a decent season so far at his new club, it was a rather bizarre decision personally, but a huge statement from Stoke.

A well-rounded, energetic, technical midfielder who is a brilliant tempo dictator, his versatility will also be a huge asset to Stoke, who could look to utilise him in wider positions to pile pressure on the North End wing-backs.

With three goals and three assists so far, Galbraith will pose a goal and creative threat if given the opportunity to dictate the field of play. However, his biggest strength is arguably his ability to influence a game without necessarily being the player who produces the decisive moment. 

Galbraith is comfortable receiving possession under pressure, moving the ball quickly and linking midfield with attack, allowing Stoke to maintain control and force opponents into uncomfortable defensive positions.

For Preston, the danger will be allowing him too much freedom to operate between the lines. North End have struggled when opponents have been able to dictate the tempo and exploit spaces in midfield, and Galbraith possesses the technical quality to take advantage of any hesitation. His ability to arrive late in the box also means Preston cannot afford to focus solely on his distribution.

PNE will need to disrupt his rhythm early, with their midfielders closing down his space and preventing him from turning freely. If Stoke are allowed to play through Galbraith, he could become the driving force behind their attacking play, making him one of the key players Preston must look to contain.

Justin Devenny

Another Northern Irish midfielder, Devenny made the permanent move from Crystal Palace in the summer, with the away side also looking at the 23-year-old.

With two goals in eight league games so far this season, there is still more to come from the versatile asset, who offers Stoke plenty of options in how they approach the game.

His biggest strength is the tactical flexibility he provides, with the ability to operate at wing-back, in central midfield or further forward as a winger. 

An energetic, hard-working player who is comfortable carrying the ball into dangerous areas, Devenny could prove particularly useful for Stoke if they look to exploit the wide areas and stretch Preston’s defensive shape.

His energy and work rate will make him an incredibly important part of whatever Stoke go on to do at the weekend, especially if he’s allowed to run at a tired Stanley Mills, who has the tendency to lose track of his runners.

Devenny’s ability to make forward runs from deeper positions could also cause problems for North End, particularly if their midfield fails to track him when Stoke transition quickly. His versatility means he can change positions throughout the game, potentially forcing Preston into difficult decisions over who should pick him up and how much defensive cover is required.

For PNE, the priority must be to limit the space Devenny has to drive into and ensure Mills receives adequate support down the flank. Allowing the 23-year-old to attack isolated defenders could give Stoke a valuable route into the final third, so Preston will need to remain disciplined and prevent him from turning his energy into a decisive attacking contribution.

Jack McGlynn

The American midfielder made the move to the Bet365 Stadium from Houston Dynamo in the summer, with Stoke securing the signature of one of Major League Soccer’s most promising young talents.

With two goals and an assist in eight Championship appearances so far this season, McGlynn has made a decent start to life in English football. The 23-year-old arrives with an impressive reputation for his technical ability, having previously established himself as an influential figure in MLS.

A left-footed, attack-minded midfielder who is comfortable dictating possession and picking out forward passes, McGlynn will provide Stoke with another creative outlet in the middle of the park. His ability to strike the ball cleanly from distance and deliver dangerous set-pieces will also make him a threat if Preston allow him too much time on the ball.

McGlynn’s creativity could prove particularly problematic for North End, especially if Stoke are allowed to dictate the tempo and exploit gaps between the midfield and defence. His ability to find teammates in advanced positions, alongside his willingness to contribute in the final third, means Preston cannot afford to simply focus on containing Ethan Galbraith and Justin Devenny.

PNE will need to close down McGlynn quickly and prevent him from getting his head up to pick out passes. Allowing the American to settle into the game could give Stoke the control they need to put Preston under sustained pressure, while conceding unnecessary free-kicks around the penalty area would also play into his strengths.