NORTH End will put faith in young hands this weekend with Andrew Lonergan expected to appear between the sticks for the first time this season.

Lonergan was due to play at Sunderland's Stadium of Light after Jonathan Gould was ruled out with a thigh strain.

And while Lonergan was left to rue the weather last week it is likely he will appear in front of a home crowd against West Brom as Gould's injury is expected to keep him out for another week, while David Lucas is on loan to Sheffield Wednesday until February 13.

Craig Brown said: "Jonathan could possibly have played last weekend but he couldn't have handled backpasses, especially on a heavy surface."

If Longridge-born Lonergan does play it will be his first performance since his man of the match effort against Watford in April, 2001.

The England Under-20 player was reported to have demanded a loan or transfer away from Deepdale earlier in the season as he grew frustrated at the lack of first team opportunies.

But, given that Brown had the option to recall Lucas in time for last Saturday's game, Lonergan has opted to take his selection as an act of confidence in him and an impressive performance could see him installed as the regular reserve keeper to Gould.

Gould himself was controversially sent off in this season's first meeting between the two sides at the Hawthorns after he was adjudged to have brought down striker Lee Hughes, a decision which incensed the keeper.

Hughes rubbed salt into the wound for North End by scoring the resulting penalty.

Saturday could also see a debut for Craig Burley, who has signed on a short-term deal.