Jon Parkin scored North End's first goal of the season against Bristol City back in August so we spoke to him gauge how the squad have settled in under the new management team after his first week in charge.
Over a week on from the new manager being appointed, how's it gone for the first team under Darren Ferguson?
It's been good, obviously we've been a bit restricted in that we've not been able to train at our training ground but we've been able to go to Man Utd's training ground so it's been good yeah.
What have been your impressions of the management team so far?
They've been a bit restricted as for what they want to do in getting their ideas across in the way I've mentioned but he just wants us to pass and play football really.
And are the lads looking forward to being given the green light to go for it now?
Yeah definitely, obviously there are times when we have to dig in a bit but it's good to be encouraged to play and it should be enjoyable.
You must be all chomping at the bit to be playing again after missing out last week and winning 7-0 before that.
Last week the game got called off because of the snow but as footballers we want to be playing and can't wait to get down to Bristol and play.
The whole squad, including the injured players, are going down to Bristol this weekend, that can only help the team ethic in the squad.
Absolutely, the lads who are injured or other wise maybe don't feel a part of things so it's good for them to come down and be part of the team. We've got a great team spirit as it is so if we can add to that even better.
Bristol City this weekend, it's a team you scored against on the opening day of the season to bring the score back to 2-1 and you got your goal account off.
Yeah, we were 2-0 down going into the last ten minutes and I've managed to score and we've ended up getting a point out of it and we got a point when it looked like we were going to get beat. It'll be a tough game down there as it always is but we can take confidence from the cup game and hopefully get three points down there. We ground a draw out down there last year so we know we're going to have to be bang at it.
In the past one of the manager's mantras has been two wingers and two forwards going at it so as a striker you must be looking forward to having the chance of boosting your own goal tally.
Definitely, the manager's encouraging the wingers and full-backs to get forward and get as many crosses in as we can so the more come in the more chances I have of getting on the end of it.
This weekend's game is a chance for yourslef and te other platyers to stake a claim for a spot ahead of the Chelsea game next week.
I suppose it is but we're not looking towards Chelsea we're looking at Bristol on Saturday and Chelsea will come round when we get to it but we're concentrating on getting three points at the weekend.
Three points against them would take us even closer again to the top six and those valuable Play-Off spots.
That's obviously the aim, we need to put a run of games together of winning four or five out of six and that will push us right back up there at the top of the table.
