Championship club ‘cancel friendly with Barcelona after being unable to field a team’

PRESTON NORTH END have reportedly cancelled their behind-closed-doors friendly with Barcelona after being unable to field a full team. Barcelona are currently in the UK as part of their pre-season plans after facing Birmingham City at St Andrews. Barcelona have scrapped plans to face Preston North End in a friendly on Monday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The Championship side couldn’t field a full team after picking up some knocks in a recent friendly Credit: Getty And they were planning to face another Championship outfit in Preston on Monday afternoon. But according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Preston have too many players unavailable. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! In fact, Preston were planning to field a team of Under-21 players for the game because they had so many absentees, the report claims. But Barcelona decided to scrap the friendly and conduct a training session instead. The La Liga side were hoping for a “demanding” contest but Preston’s situation has forced them to switch up their plans. Barcelona could even opt to return to Spain earlier than expected after the fixture was ruled out. SunSport understands Preston had a squad for the game but it was down to the bare bones after a few knocks in their friendly defeat to Stockport County. Hansi Flick‘s men are still waiting for a number of their senior stars to return to the squad after winning the World Cup with Spain. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Barcelona have been in the UK for their pre-season plans after playing Birmingham in a friendly Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The likes of Lamine Yamal, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Pedri and World Cup winning hero Ferran Torres are still taking an extended break. But Flick played an experimental side against Birmingham as they drew 2-2 with the Midlands outfit on Friday. Birmingham took the lead through August Priske before Hamza Abdelkarim levelled the scores. Abdelkarim netted once again with around half an hour to go before Jhon Solis made it 2-2 to force penalies. Birmingham emerged victorious in the shootout as James Beadle saved three efforts to help the Championship side pull off a famous win. Former Birmingham boy Jude Bellingham watched on from the stands and appeared to enjoy their victory over Real Madrid‘s La Liga rivals. Comment now