Preston North End midfielder and reported Rangers target Daniel Johnson was left out of the Deepdale side’s squad as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Stoke City.
The Jamaican playmaker is the talisman of Alex Neil’s side but has been missing from the club’s last three matchday squads as he recovers from a groin complaint.
Preston’s stumbling start to the Championship campaign continued as they went down to 10-men and struggled to get back into the match against Michael O’Neill’s side.
The Lilywhites now sit 17th in the English second tier, with one point from their opening three games amid ongoing reported interest in their top players.
Rangers’ reported interest in Johnson, 27, has stalled in the last week as the clubs reportedly fail to settle on a transfer fee.
Preston reportedly want up to £4m for the player despite the midfielder’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
As a result, Preston boss Alex Neil said that he believed Johnson would still be a Deepdale player come the end of the transfer window.
“All of that [the interest] has gone away, thankfully,” said Neil [Herald].
“We are hoping it continues that way. If you said to me right now, ‘how confident am I?’ I am very confident that none of the lads will be away.”
That’s despite the likes of ex-Rangers star Andy Little claiming the diminutive midfielder wanted a move to Ibrox.
“I’ve heard that he’s keen to go to Rangers through my contacts down there so I think that’s very important,” said Little [Scottish Sun].
“Getting the chance to go to Ibrox doesn’t happen every day of the week and I feel he will handle playing for Rangers.”
