Preston North End have negated the issues surrounding their loan players by signing two on permanent deals until the end of the season.

North End signed eight players in the window, seven of which were loanees, including three on deadline day. With only five permitted to be used in a matchday squad, that left Alex Neil facing the prospect of leaving two of them in the stands.

However, registration rules allow loan deals to be made permanent outside of transfer windows, as they have done with full back Greg Cunningham and striker Ched Evans.

Cunningham will return to Ewood Park, where he played 10 times on loan last season, when the two teams meet on Friday night. Evans scored in the weekend defeat to Rotherham United where all eight new signings included in the squad.

The pair have both signed deals on loan until the end of the season having previously been on loan from Cardiff City and Fleetwood Town respectively.

Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen (Leicester City), defender Liam Lindsay (Stoke City), midfielder Jayson Molumby (Brighton) and winger Anthony Gordon (Everton) all started the game against the Millers, as did Evans. Cunningham meanwhile, was an unused substitute, while Sepp van den Berg (Liverpool) was brought on in the second half.

Ben Whiteman, their one permanent signing in January from Doncaster, also lined up in midfield, giving a much different look to the North End side than the one that faced Rovers in November.

Rovers won 3-0 at Deepdale, ending a seven game wait for a win against the near neighbours. On Friday they will be looking to do the double over North End, just as they did in 2000/01.