The defender has been sidelined for a month with a back injury and is still struggling to be fit.
Midfielder Daniel Parejo has gone back to Real Madrid after his disappointing loan spell in west London was cut short.
Fellow summer signings Emmanuel Ledesma and Samuel Di Carmine have also been left out lately, but both scored for the reserves in midweek to boost their claims.
Top-scorer Dexter Blackstock appeared from the bench at Plymouth last Saturday after a back injury and could start.
Midfielder Akos Buzsaky is out for the season with a knee injury and striker Rowan Vine is continuing his lengthy recovery from the broken leg he suffered in March.
Preston boss Alan Irvine will check on the fitness of Billy Jones and Neil Mellor ahead of the trip.
Right-back Jones is nursing a hamstring injury which ruled him out of last week's 1-0 win over Birmingham and may leave him sidelined again.
Youngster Eddie Nolan could again be asked to deputise while Mellor will also be assessed after missing the past two matches with a jarred hip.
The striker is now facing a race against time to regain full fitness ahead of the visit of his former club Liverpool in the FA Cup third round on January 3.
Jon Parkin has come off the bench in the past two games to score vital goals and secure high-flying North End successive 1-0 victories against Doncaster and Birmingham respectively.
He could push for a starting role but goalkeeper Wayne Henderson and defenders Liam Chilvers and Neal Trotman are still not ready to be considered for first-team selection.
Sporting Life