Preston North End goalkeeper Wayne Henderson has told pne.com that he is fully fit and raring to go as he returned to pre-season training on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old stopper has endured two years of injury frustration in the Lilywhites ranks but returned to fitness with a loan spell at Grimsby towards the end of last season and is now ready to challenge Andy Lonergan for the No.1 jersey once again.

"It's a whole new season again," Henderson said as he looked forward to the hard work that pre-season brings.

"I missed the majority of pre-season last year but I have heard enough talk from the rest of the lads to know what to expect, I have worked hard in the summer and come back in decent shape and I am looking forward to it.

"I don't know why I am saying it but I am actually looking forward to this trip to Austria!"

Henderson received an end of season bonus when he received an unexpected recall to the Republic of Ireland squad, linking up with two fellow North Enders, Sean St. Ledger and Eddie Nolan. Hendo admits that it was a huge boost to his own ambitions but also recognised the efforts of his Club mates who did so well for Giovanni Trapattoni.

He said: "That was brilliant. It was great to get some kind of recognition for all the hard work I have put in over the last couple of years. The games that I played out on loan at Grimsby couldn't have gone any better, it was probably the best I have played throughout my career. It was a great bonus to finish the season with Ireland and to play a part at Preston next season would be great.

"To have three Preston players in the squad was amazing. The other two lads have done fantastic and I am over the moon for them. I have been saying for a long time now that Sean should have been in that squad, he deserves it and to go out and do so well, I am delighted for him."

Henderson puts his international aspirations behind him for the time being, knowing that he has to work hard if he is to maintain and improve his current levels of fitness. But the former Aston Villa youth is also putting things in perspective bearing in mind he was unsure of whether he would ever be able to play again less than 12 months ago.

"I'm feeling great, everything feels terrific, I just need to manage it and do what I need to do to keep fit. I know what the formula is to keep me going and I am on top of the world.

"I am 25 now so I am not immature, I know what I need to do and I am going to be ready come the start of the season.

"Just to play games again, eight months ago I wasn't sure that I would play again. So to be here for pre-season I am raring to go and ready to give Lonners some competition for next season, that in itself is a great achievement in itself, to be able to come back here and feel as good as I do is a great bonus for me.

"I came here to put Lonners under pressure and he has had two fantastic seasons while I have been out. To see how he has developed while I have been out, I am going to try and catch up and put the pressure on like I did the last time I was fit."

The Carbra born keeper is also delighted that Alan Irvine is remaining at Deepdale following the West Brom speculation, Henderson believes that the North End boss is a manager that the whole squad enjoy working under.

"We are blessed that the manager hasn't left. I think it was such a bonus when he did come in, to achieve what he did in such a short space of time, it would have been a travesty to lose him and I am glad that we have kept hold of him and everybody else is happy," said the keeper.

"I saw the Michael Hart interview where he said that sometimes there are players who don't like a manager but at this place everyone has full respect for the manager and his coaching staff and we all can't wait to play a part next season.

"The Championship is always a tough division, we looked at it last year and I think there were 16 teams who were expected to be there or thereabouts and there will be more this year.

"It's always said that we overachieve when we do well in this division but I think that the hard work that we put in last pre-season was justified in the results that we got last year. Hopefully we can get the same results this year and kick on again," added the Irishman.