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Brentford have boosted their defensive options with the loan signings of Sunderland's Blair Adams and Blackpool's Miguel Llera.

Adams, 20, is yet to make his Black Cats debut but made two appearances for England during the recent Under-20 World Cup.

Llera, 32, has League One experience with MK Dons and Charlton Athletic and only joined Blackpool last month.

The duo have signed deals tying them to the Griffin Park club until 7 December

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Blair Adams will be fit for Brentford's home game against Preston.

The on-loan Sunderland left-back limped off during Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Colchester but manager Uwe Rosler confirmed he was only suffering from cramp.

Winger Sam Saunders is back in training after three weeks out with knee ligament damage but he will need a reserve game before being considered.

Striker Gary Alexander is also close to returning after a knee injury but will not be risked at the weekend.

Long-term absentees Toumani Diagouraga (knee) and Kirk Hudson (hip) are in light training but are still some way from a return to first-team action.

Defenders Shaleum Logan (ankle) and Leon Legge (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.

Preston boss Phil Brown has a selection headache ahead of their trip south.

North End recorded an impressive 2-0 win at promotion rivals Charlton in the Carling Cup second round on Tuesday night.

Brown made eight changes from Friday's thrilling 4-2 win against Yeovil, most notably goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou stepping in to make his first-team debut in place of the injured Iain Turner.

There was also a first start of the season for club captain Ian Ashbee following a knee injury which ruled him out of the start of the season.

Striker Juvhel Tsoumou made his first start for the Lilywhites while senior squad players Darel Russell and Craig Morgan both put in assured performances after falling out of favour.

Brown - who is hoping that Turner will be passed fit after a knock - said: "We made eight changes and to say that we deserved to win the game is an understatement.''

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Miguel Llera will be missing from the Brentford defence when they face Huddersfield at Griffin Park.

The Spaniard serves a one-match ban for his red card at Oldham last weekend so Karleigh Osborne is set for a recall at centre-half.

Winger Sam Saunders, who has been out for a month with a knee injury, proved his fitness by playing 85 minutes for the reserves in midweek and should be added to the squad.

Striker Gary Alexander (knee) is still missing so Bristol City loanee David Clarkson will partner Clayton Donaldson in attack again after making his debut last week.

Defenders Shaleum Logan (ankle) and Leon Legge (hamstring) and winger Kirk Hudson (hip) remain in the treatment room.

Huddersfield club skipper Peter Clarke is hoping to return to the starting line-up for the trip south.

Clarke has missed the last seven games after failing to win back his place in the side following injury but could be back in favour as Jamie McCombe starts his ban following his dismissal last week against Leyton Orient.

Clarke will be vying with on-loan Hull defender Liam Cooper, who has yet to start a league game for Town.

Alex Smithies remains sidelined following knee surgery, so Ian Bennett will continue in goal, but boss Lee Clark has no other injury or suspension problems.

Leading goalscorer Lee Novak will retain his place up front alongside Alan Lee or Jordan Rhodes, while the likes of Donal McDermott, Tommy Miller, Anton Robinson and Gary Roberts are all pushing for recalls.

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Carlisle will be without Lubo Michalik for their home game with Brentford.

The big central defender is away on international duty with Slovakia, so manager Greg Abbott is expected to switch to a flat back four with Danny Livesey partnering Peter Murphy at the heart of defence.

Abbott told the News & Star: "You can see the positive and negative sides of the big man being called up, but it's up to the players to get on without him against Brentford.''

Abbott, who has no new injury or suspension problems, has employed three central defenders in the Cumbrians' last two matches, but could be tempted to switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

Midfielders Tom Taiwo and Jon-Paul McGovern are pushing for returns to the starting line-up, as is striker Francois Zoko.

Abbott's side have lost all three league games they have played without Michalik this season.

Brentford will check on Karleigh Osborne ahead of the trip.

The centre-half missed Wednesday night's 3-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Charlton due to a slight groin problem, with Miguel Llera stepping into the back four.

The Bees will be without midfield duo Niall McGinn, who is on international duty with Northern Ireland, and Marcus Bean following his first call-up to the Jamaica squad.

Boss Uwe Rosler has a few selection dilemmas after making five changes at The Valley.

Richard Lee will return in goal and Clayton Donaldson should reclaim his place in attack.

Defenders Leon Legge (hamstring) and Shaleum Logan (ankle), winger Kirk Hudson (hip) and striker Gary Alexander (knee) are still on the casualty list.

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Niall McGinn and Marcus Bean return to the Brentford squad for the visit of SCNUThorpe.

The midfielders missed last week's 2-2 draw at Carlisle due to international duty, McGinn with the Northern Ireland squad and Bean making his first appearance for Jamaica.

Defenders Leon Legge (hamstring) and Shaleum Logan (ankle) are still unavailable, although the latter is back in training and has been pencilled in for a reserve game next week.

Gary Alexander remains on the sidelines with a knee injury but he too hopes to step up his training next week.

Fellow striker David Clarkson plays the last game of his initial one-month loan spell from Bristol City and is unsure whether the deal will be extended.

SCNUThorpe will welcome back a trio of players from international duty.

Niall Canavan and Shane Duffy have been away with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s and Oliver Norwood has been on duty with Northern Ireland, but all three have returned unscathed and could feature.

Midfielder Michael Collins (tendonitis) and right-back Cliff Byrne have returned to training, though Saturday's clash at Griffin Park will come too soon for the pair.

Jordan Robertson (broken foot), Matt Godden (hip/hernia), Josh Lillis and Jimmy Ryan (both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Knill will be desperate for his side to get back to winning ways after last week's home defeat to Leyton Orient brought an abrupt end to their mini-revival, which saw them win their first two League One games of the season.

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Gavin Mahon is a fresh injury concern for Notts County ahead of the visit of Brentford.

Mahon was withdrawn late on in the 3-1 victory over Chesterfield last weekend after tweaking his groin. The experienced midfielder, who recently signed an extended contract, will undergo a late fitness.

Manager Martin Allen could consider Ishmel Demontagnac as a replacement for Mahon after his rare inclusion in the squad at the b2net Stadium.

Veteran striker Lee Hughes will be pushing for a recall after starting the last two league matches on the bench.

Allen twice led Brentford to the League One play-offs during his spell in charge of the London club between 2004 and 2006.

Brentford have been struggling with a sickness bug ahead that may see some players miss the trip.

Manager Uwe Rosler is hopeful defenders Blair Adams and Miguel Llera and midfielders Marcus Bean and Toumani Diagouraga will be available, but winger Myles Weston is a doubt.

Centre-half Karleigh Osborne is fit after a groin problem and full-back Shaleum Logan has recovered from an ankle injury, although Rosler has confirmed the latter will not be rushed back after two months out.

Gary Alexander remains on the sidelines with a knee injury and fellow striker David Clarkson has gone back to Bristol City following the end of his loan spell.

Richard Lee starts in goal after signing a new contract earlier this week.

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Fit-again Gary Alexander could go straight into the Brentford starting line-up for the visit of Chesterfield.

The striker has been out for almost two months with a knee injury but is now back in full training.

Clayton Donaldson has been playing on his own in attack but boss Uwe Rosler said after Tuesday's home defeat by Stevenage that he wants to revert to two up front.

He could either pitch Alexander straight back in or give a start to Mike Grella, who came on as a substitute in midweek.

Karleigh Osborne is set to miss out after picking up a foot injury, and with fellow centre-half Leon Legge still sidelined with a hamstring problem, Rosler has drafted in versatile defender Dale Bennett on a month's loan from Watford.

Chesterfield have no new problems.

Manager John Sheridan made two changes against Rochdale in midweek after seeing his side slip to a fifth successive defeat at home to Hartlepool last Saturday, and it paid dividends as last season`s League Two champions halted their dire run with a 1-1 draw at Spotland.

A change of formation saw Aaron Downes come into the defence while Lee Johnson went straight back into the midfield on his return from suspension. Midfielders Mark Allott and Mark Randall dropped down to the bench.

Sheridan could be tempted to name an unchanged starting XI and stick with the 4-5-1 system that worked well on Tuesday night.

Ahead of the game, Sheridan said: "It will be tough. They started the season really well but just lately they've had a few results that haven't gone their way.

"But every time I've ever been to Brentford it's always been a tough game, they're a workmanlike side who will be in our faces but we need to go and try to win.'