North End winger Lee Holmes is looking forward to the team pitting their wits against Premier League opposition in the upcoming friendly against Liverpool.
Holmes hopes to start pre-season with a win against the Merseyside outfit, the first time he will face the side.
‘The Reds’ will be fielding their first team squad and the 26-year-old can’t wait to test himself against some of the best players in the world.
“Playing against players like that and being able to be inspired by people like them and how great a career these people have had makes you want to strive to perform at that level as well,” Holmes said.
“It is exciting for everyone but as fans they will see the best players in the world and as players we can play against them, it is going to be a tough task but we want to start the season as we ended.”
It will be the perfect preparation for the squad prior to the new season and Holmes hopes that this game can be the start of what could be a great season for the Lilywhites.
“I think as people and players we have an ambition at this club and know what we want to do, and we want to get promoted and I think next season it is a massive goal for us.”
The game itself is a tribute to the great Bill Shankly, who is a legend in the eyes of both sets of fans, and Holmes was a Liverpool fan himself as a youngster and has great admiration for him.
“He was someone that I always knew about because my dad was a big Liverpool fan, and my brother, and we always looked at quotes that Bill Shankly said.”
“He was an amazing person, an amazing manager and I have no question about it that it will be played in the spirit that he will appreciate.”
It also marks the return of fan favourite Scott Laird, who will be available to play following his injury back in November.
“It will be a great thing to have Scott back, he did really well when he was playing and he is a great lad to have around, having him back is a great boost for the team and for the club.”
It could also be the first time the fans get a glimpse of new signings Tom Clarke and Chris Humphrey. Holmes played alongside Clarke in the England U19 side.
“I think they will be excited and they are able to perform in front of these great fans and put on a show really, I’m itching to go really, as are all of us.”
“I know Tom quite well he’s a really good player, great on the ball, and a good defender.”
“It is great to add additions to the squad and they could help us get promoted and they are two players I know will fit in quite well.”
The game against Liverpool is one of two friendlies at home before the season kicks off.
The other is against Championship side Blackburn Rovers and Holmes says it is important to play against the higher league teams in pre-season.
“We don’t want to be in League One, we want to be higher, so I think putting yourself against those teams and pitting yourself against them is going to show where we are at.”
“We want to perform against the best teams, the best players and if we can perform against them, we know we are in a good place to go in league one and do the same thing.”