Preston North End captain Ali McCann will miss a significant chunk of the Championship season after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury, the club has confirmed. The 26-year-old is expected to be absent for "months", dealing a painful blow to a side already in the lower reaches of the second-tier table.

How the injury happened

McCann suffered the injury after coming on as a substitute in Preston's 4-0 League Cup defeat to Everton last month. He went under the knife on Tuesday, and the early signs from the operation were at least encouraging. "Ali had his operation on Tuesday and we were all pleased with how that's gone," the club's manager told the Preston website. "It's obviously a blow not to have him for the next few months, but the priority is that he comes back fit and well so we wish him all the best."

The sentiment is genuine, but the footballing reality is hard to ignore. McCann had managed four appearances in the current campaign before the injury ended his involvement. Losing a skipper and a midfield anchor at any point is difficult; losing one when the team has won just one of their opening six Championship fixtures is considerably worse.

The bigger picture for Preston

Five defeats from six Championship matches already leaves Preston in a precarious position at this early stage of the season. The table is congested and it is far too soon to draw firm conclusions, but the margin for further slippage is thin. One win in six generates roughly five points from a possible 18; a side finishing the campaign at that rate would collect fewer than 30 points across 46 games, a total that has never been enough to avoid relegation.

That is an extreme projection, and early-season form rarely holds in either direction. A run of four good results can flatter a squad just as much as a miserable start can mislead. Nevertheless, Preston cannot afford to let this period drift further.

McCann's absence complicates matters considerably. A Northern Ireland international, he provides leadership and defensive solidity in midfield, the kind of player whose contribution is most visible when he is not there. Whoever fills his role in the coming weeks will need time to settle, and Preston simply do not have the luxury of a patient transition.

What happens now

With "months" as the only timeframe offered, the realistic hope is that McCann is back in contention somewhere around the New Year, assuming no setbacks in his rehabilitation. That would still leave Preston navigating the most demanding fixture congestion of the season without their captain.

The club have been linked with a move for Graham Alexander in the managerial market, and any incoming manager will need to find cover in central midfield as a near-immediate priority. Whether that means dipping into the free-agent pool, recalling a youth product, or reshuffling the existing squad is a decision the dugout will need to make quickly.

For now, Preston supporters will simply want to see the team find some consistency in the Championship. McCann will have his operation recovery to focus on. Everyone else at Deepdale has a relegation battle to arrest before it becomes a genuine crisis.

Frequently asked

How long is Ali McCann out for Preston?
McCann is expected to be sidelined for several months after undergoing hamstring surgery. The club has not given a specific return date.
How did Ali McCann get injured?
McCann suffered the hamstring injury after coming on as a substitute in Preston's League Cup defeat to Everton last month.
How are Preston doing in the Championship this season?
Preston have won just one of their opening six Championship matches, losing five, which leaves them in the lower half of the second-tier table.