NORTH End are playing a waiting game to see if cash-strapped Leeds put up or shut up in their bid to sign David Healy.

North End manager Billy Davies hailed the Deepdale faithful for the warm welcome they gave the striker in Tuesday's game against QPR.

Healy, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, has been the subject of three bids from Leeds, the highest of which was for £600,000 and was submitted on Monday.

His agent has expressed the 25-year-old's desire to play on a bigger stage, but with Leeds level with North End on points, it's still questionable whether Elland Road would be the right move for him.

But loss-making North End may yet decide to cash in on Healy if Leeds return with a bid which involves a greater sum up-front.

It is thought less than £300,000 was guaranteed in the last bid, with the rest based on things like number of appearances. The alternative could be to that Healy would leave for nothing at the end of the season.

His performance on Tuesday night laid to rest any fear of a repeat of the Ricardo Fuller situation which saw the Jamaican's form dip alarmingly after Premiership clubs were told last season - and in the early part of this term - that he wasn't for sale.

Davies said: "David responded magnificently and it was an excellent goal. I would dearly love to keep him, and he knows it. As far as I am concerned he is a Preston player and on that basis we are working towards this weekend's game against Forest."

If no sale materialises, it's likely Healy will partner Richard Cresswell up front on Saturday. For Davies, the concerns are more about who will play at the back. Andrew Lonergan is sidelined with a broken hand, meaning Jonathan Gould will probably return from his loan spell at Hereford to provide cover, along with Gavin Ward, who replaced Lonergan on Tuesday. North End also have Marlon Broomes and Callum Davidson out injured. With John Curtis recalled to Portsmouth, that left Davies with no choice but to adopt a 3-5-2 formation on Tuesday - something he praised the players for dealing with so well.