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Kenny Jackett looking to find role for £3m Joe Mason

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Kenny Jackett certainly faces a selection poser tomorrow.

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The Wolves boss surprisingly dropped his new £3million signing Joe Mason last weekend, despite the ex-Cardiff man netting on his debut against Bolton.

And after a much improved performance in the 0-0 draw at Reading, Jackett may be tempted to stick with the same XI.

But he clearly wants to find a play for his new man in the team.

And Jackett believes Mason can fit into the 4-3-3 system he utilised at the Madejski last Saturday.

"He definitely can work into that system and that's his challenge now to get in," Jackett said.

"I think Joe's a finisher. He has the ability to play in any of the front three positions.

"We've worked hard with him in training in doing that.

"Quite often (in a 4-3-3) you don't need to play two wingers and one centre forward.

"Sometimes it's one winger, one number nine and one player that's halfway in-between the both.

"Because otherwise the isolation of your number nine is too much. He could play any of the front three positions."

Having seen Mason on the training field for the past two weeks, is there anything Jackett has learned about his new striker?

"I see a big ability of Joe's is getting in behind, his timing of his runs is very good, and his finishing is very good," he said.

"He's spent time at Cardiff maybe coming off and dropping off into midfield.

"Yes maybe he can do that, but the player that I've seen in the short time he's been here can be effective at running in behind and can be effective at scoring goals.

"He's quick enough to do it.

"Getting enough physical presence around him in any system is something I'm looking to do.

"His finishing is a big strength and is something that we need."

Wolves' game at Deepdale in September was memorable for many reasons.

Kevin McDonald struck a last gasp equaliser after Wolves had pummelled the Preston back line for almost the entire second half, with Simon Grayson's side down to nine men following the sendings off of Joe Garner and Bailey Wright.

And then, of course, an angry confrontation took place between Steve Morgan and supporters outside the ground after full time. Forty-eight hours later Morgan resigned as chairman.

Preston, promoted from League One last year, are currently 14th in the table, just one point behind Wolves.

They've scored just 27 (only four teams have netted fewer) but conceded only 28 (the sixth meanest defence in the league).

Jackett said of tomorrow's opposition: "They've done very well, out of the three promoted sides they're doing very well.

"It's amazing how they came through the play-offs and the other sides got up automatically.

"The bedrock of what they've done has been a very mean defence.

"They're hard to score against, top class performers in goal, and just defensively very strong and have had a good season after coming out of League One.

"It was a tough game for us at Deepdale and they were hard to break them down.

"And it'll be a difficult game again. But an opportunity for us to put on a good performance."