Henderson has missed the last ten months of football with a back injury

Preston goalkeeper Wayne Henderson has missed the start of pre-season training with a back injury.

The 24-year-old Ireland international has been out of action for ten months after suffering a slipped disc which failed to respond to treatment.

Manager Alan Irvine told BBC Radio Lancashire: "He's not started with us unfortunately but he's getting close."

"We hope the treatment he's been having during the close season will mean that his problems will now be behind him."

The initial target was to be fit for the first of July but he's a little behind that at this moment Alan Irvine

Henderson has been limited to just eight starts since joining Preston from Brighton in January 2007.

He started the first four games of last season before undergoing surgery to repair his back problem.

Irvine is keen to have Henderson fit in time to feature in some of the club's pre-season friendlies this summer and put pressure on last season's number one Andrew Lonergan.

"I'm hoping that he will be fit to play. The initial target was to be fit for the first of July but he's a little behind that at this moment," Irvine added.

"Hopefully he will be able to join in full time training soon with the rest of the lads and then from there he'll play his first game for us."

Midfielder Kevin Nicholls has also missed the start of pre-season training at the club's Springfields base.

He has been out of action since having surgery on a knee ligament injury in March.

"He's doing well. He's got a little bit of a problem just now but I don't think it's anything major from what the medical people tell me," Irvine said.

"He's had his problems since I came in that's for sure. He was in the team when I first arrived but then picked up a couple of injuries and one of them being quite a bad injury so it's been a bit unfortunate for Kevin."