Midfielder John Welsh is relishing being back in the Championship and with a number of home games this month is looking to kick on.
John Welsh has spent a large chunk of his career in the Championship and played his part as the Lilywhites returned to it in the summer with their memorable Play-Off Final win on May 24th.
The Club captain lifted the trophy alongside team skipper Tom Clarke on the Wembley balcony to seal the promotion back to the second tier that he had targeted when he signed for the Lilywhites in the summer of 2012.
And now a month into the 2015/16 season the Liverpool-born player says that the first few weeks have left the Deepdale dressing room with no fears as to what they are up against this season, but instead with a sense that with the same effort and application that got them promotion then they will more than hold their own against some vaunted opponents.
Speaking to The One And Only the North End No.19 felt that there was a clear step in quality, but nothing that was beyond the players’ expectations of what they would be coming up against.
“When you look at the teams, there are a lot more players in teams who can hurt you,” the 31-year-old told the matchday programme. “You see a lot more players who have played at international level; some are bordering Premier League level, so as expected the quality has gone up a bit, but I think we have done well.
“We would have liked better results in the games, but the performance levels have been quite high and it has reinforced the lads’ confidence that they can do well at this level, compete and win games and if we keep performing the way that we have then I am sure that the goals will come and with that the wins will come.
“Against really good teams we have performed very well and could easily have won all of them. You just have to look at the squads of the teams we have played against to see international players and Premier League players, but the consistency that we have shown has been good, so we have come out of games deserving something. If we can keep that up then I am sure we will be alright.
“A lot of teams spent a lot of money in the summer, just look at Derby at the weekend, who spent £10m on deadline day; a lot of cash was being splashed about, but that’s what we want to be a part of, we want to mix it with the big boys. We are confident of what we have here. We will back each other, work hard and bring it all together as a group. It is exciting, but these are the type of players that we want to be playing against.”
To read more from Welsh and to read interviews and features with the returning Callum Robinson, Joe Garner answering your questions, Chris Kirkland, Marnick Vermijl and Ben Davies, plus 13 pages of visitors content and all the usual photos and features will be available in The One And Only for just £3 on sale from Tuesday from the Club shop and around the ground on match night.