In late September, in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Turf Moor, Duff was forced off after an innocuous-looking challenge with Stuart Green, and immediately underwent surgery on his lateral knee ligament and hamstring tendon, with a further two-month wait before he could have his cruciate ligament repaired.

He was expected to be out for 12 months, however, in December, an exploratory operation ruled out the need for more surgery, and Duff has stepped up his recovery since, returning to full training with the first team squad, and completing a behind-closed-doors game against Crewe.

He would have featured in the friendly in Dublin against Bohemians, but stayed at home with his wife ahead of the imminent birth of first child Tommy.

However, he climbed the latest step of the ladder against a young North End, in a team containing Alan Mahon, Gabor Kiraly, Stephen Jordan, Garreth O'Connor, Mark Randall, and John Spicer.

Mahon returned to full training this week following a hamstring injury that has ruled him out for 12 of the last 13 games – bar a brief substitute appearance in the win at Coventry last month, and he came through an hour.

North End went in front on the half hour, when bustling frontman Joe Anyinsah finished well after coming in from the right, and it was 2-0 at the break when Lewis Neal's free kick was nodded in by Tom Smyth.

Preston added a third at the death when Harry Whalley headed home a corner at the near post.

Burnley: Kiraly, Stott, Duff, Lynch, Jordan, G. O'Connor, Randall, Spicer, Mahon, McDonald, Fletcher. Subs: Ritchie, Bradley, Kay, Harvey, Anderson.