"Don’t know what it is" - Preston North End doubt over Emil Riis future | OneFootball

The Dane has struggled to get back to his early Deepdale form in recent months

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Preston North End could be set for an almighty shakeup next summer, with a whole host of players currently in the final 12 months of their contract with the club.

The Lilywhites currently have 13 players playing for their future as it stands, with Paul Heckingbottom’s side currently trying to get their 24/25 Championship season into full swing.

With the uncertainty surrounding the club following Ryan Lowe’s early departure back in August, decisions on playing staff will likely be made in the following months, with some long-serving stars’ futures hanging in the balance.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s resident North End fan Darren Watson regarding Emil Riis, with the Dane one of the baker’s dozen who is facing an uncertain future as it stands.

Preston North End face Emil Riis conundrum next summer

Since his arrival at the football club in 2020, Riis has been a regular presence up top for the Deepdale outfit when fit, although injury issues have seen him ruled out for large periods of time.

An ACL injury in January 2023 saw the frontman ruled out for the better part of a year, and he is yet to rediscover the sort of form that he demonstrated before that major setback to his career.

With 16 goals in the 2021/22 campaign, Riis was considered one of the most lethal strikers in the second tier, before returns of five and six goals in the injury-ravaged seasons that followed.

The 26-year-old has netted just once since the Championship resumed in August, with the opener in a 3-1 defeat to Oxford United all to show for his efforts, and his recent performances have left Watson contemplating whether Riis has a future at the club.

When posed the question regarding the forward’s contract, the Lilywhites fan pundit said: “I really do like Emil Riis, he holds the ball up really well when it is played into him, he is tall, he is strong, and on his day we know he can score one, two, three, maybe even four goals.

“I don’t know what it is, but something has just been lacking with him this season, and obviously with Will Keane not firing on all cylinders as well, I also think that we need to possibly look at taking him out and finding a new striker.

“He is really, really good on his day, and I believe he is one of the top Championship strikers.”

Emil Riis will have to rise to the challenge after Milutin Osmajic, Will Keane updates

Heckingbottom will likely have to put his faith in one of Riis in the weeks to come, following the Football Association’s decision to ban North End striker Milutin Osmajic for eight games, while Keane has been ruled out for eight weeks through injury.

The Montenegrin was handed the punishment after appearing to bite Blackburn Rovers’ Owen Beck during the meeting between the two sides last month which ended goalless.

That decision will leave Riis being depended on even more so at the business end of the field, with his future likely to be riding on his ability to find the back of the net in what will be a crucial period for his side.

With the days counting down on his time at the club as it stands, a return to that 21/22 form would be warmly welcomed now more than ever, with the forward likely to want to prove himself before the summer arrives.