The pressure is on for Alex Neil to deliver results at Deepdale after a below-par start to the 2020/21 season.

The Lilywhites have excelled on the road but those positive results have been marred by their shocking form at Deepdale, taking just one win at home this season.

Contract issues with key players like Ben Pearson, Ben Davies, Daniel Johnson and Alan Browne have disrupted matters, with fans urging chairman Trevor Hemmings make a proper attempt to tie down these key players to long-term deals.

Injuries have also played a big part in the inconsistent form, with Davies and Pearson both missing a full month of action, and Patrick Bauer is now out for the season with an achilles injury.

With injuries hitting the squad at a busy period, lets take a look at two free agents that could bolster the North End squad immediately going into the christmas period and beyond.

Kieron Freeman

It's hard to believe how Freeman doesn't have a club still, considering how good he was for Sheffield United a few years ago when they were last in the Championship.

Freeman never got a chance in the Premier League due to the good form of George Baldock in the right wing back position, but he would be a good fit for most second tier sides, and both full back positions are weak spots for Preston at the moment.

The 28-year-old would provide strong competition to Darnell Fisher, who is also out of contract in the summer, and would provide another attacking outlet down the right hand side of the pitch.

Simon Francis

Another position Preston are vulnerable in right now is in the centre of defence, with Bauer suffering a season-ending injury at Bournemouth last week.

35-year-old Francis ended his nine-year association with the Cherries in the summer, and made 15 appearances in the Premier League last season.

Preston fans would probably want a younger defender to come in in January on loan as a replacement for Bauer, but an experienced deputy in Francis would be a solid signing until the end of the season.