Steve Evans believes there is still "a lot to play for" in Saturday’s season closer at Preston North End, with a travelling support of around 5,500 United fans heading to Deepdale as the curtain comes down on the 2015/16 campaign.

United make the lunchtime trip to Lancashire looking to respond to last weekend’s home defeat to Charlton Athletic and cement a place in the top half of the table, which would represent the club’s highest league finish for five years.

Simon Grayson’s Preston enter the game in a similar position – one place and three points above United in the table after a productive first season back in the second tier.

“We’re playing against a good team full of good players,” said Evans. “They’ve spent decent money this year – you only need to look at the size of their squad and the quality within it.

“But it’s not about what you spend – people look at the league table.

“We have to go there and make sure we produce another best-of-the-season performance.

“It’s the same for the Preston lads, they’ve got a lot to play for. They want to finish on a high and we do as well.

“We’re taking five-and-a-half thousand supporters and it will make for a wonderful atmosphere.

“But, as I’ve maintained throughout, if we were playing in an ASDA car par in the Isle of Wight, Leeds United would turn up and it would be a sell-out crowd.”

United have no fresh injury concerns for Saturday, although Evans has confirmed winger Mustapha Carayol will remain sidelined for the final game of his loan spell from Middlesbrough.

“Mustapha Carayol is not quite right, he’ll miss out on Saturday,” the head coach said. “It’s been a difficult end to the season for the boy with his little injury.

“We could have got him out there but it’s the last game of the season and being 90 per cent clear is not enough.

“We have to look after him and send him into the summer 100 per cent fit. Other than that, we’re good to go.”