Preston North End pair Sean Maguire and Billy Bodin have both been ruled out of the opening months of the new season according to manager Alex Neil, as he announced on the club's website. 

Striker Maguire was hauled off during the club's final pre-season match on Saturday and a scan has revealed a hamstring injury that will keep him out for two months.

Bodin will be missing for at least six months, however, after suffering knee ligament damage in training earlier in the week.

Manager Alex Neil is, unsurprisingly, incredibly disappointed with the news.

"Sean was taken off as a precaution, we didn’t think much of it," Neil told the club's website.

"Because of his history, we got him scanned and it’s come back a lot worse than what we thought.

"Billy Bodin also got his foot stuck in the ground and as he turned in training, he has damaged his ACL . It’s devastating for Billy."

Maguire moved from Cork City a year ago and went on to score ten goals in 24 appearances in an injury-hit campaign that saw him miss three months of the season.

Bodin has been at the club since January after impressing for Bristol Rovers in the first half of last season.

He was signed as a replacement for Jordan Hugill who left for West Ham in the same window.

The verdict 

There is no denying that this is a big blow for North End.

Bodin did not exactly sparkle for Alex Neil last season but he has been impressive in pre-season and was set to play a much bigger part.

Maguire's nack for a goal will also be a big miss. Scoring ten goals in an injury-hit season is impressive and he would have been a top option for them in the opening games.