PNE ‘keeper Chris Maxwell is looking for himself and his teammates to make an impact in the upcoming pre-season schedule.
Maxwell sat down with PNE.Com about coming back to Springfields to start preparations for the season ahead.
“It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back into our usual routine and its good out to be out on the pitch with all the lads.
“It’s a long period over the summer where you’re not training and you’re not playing games, so it’s exciting. All you want to do is get out on the field and compete in a competitive game.”
The 26-year-old also spoke of his anticipation for the upcoming friendly matches, having had a week back in training with the squad.
“I know it’s only a friendly but the players at Bamber Bridge will be right up for it - we’ve got to make sure that we’re right up for it and we’re getting our sharpness ready for the season.
“You try and put the performances in to make sure that you’re ready for the start of the season. People say that it’s not about the results in pre-season but to be any top sportsman or any top professional you’ve got to makes sure that you want to win games.
“You want to compete and you want to be on the winning team - so we’ve got to do that - we’ve got to put the graft in to make sure we’ve got our peak performances ready.”
Now his new manager has been announced, the North End ‘keeper is focused on making an impression early on. Chris was patient last season and got his chance in the first team, making it his own and firmly becoming the club’s first choice - but he insists that that experience hasn’t changed his approach.
“I don’t think it should make a difference, no matter who the manager is, no matter club you’re at and no matter what level. You should be putting your all in and trying your best each day and making sure you play on a Saturday.
“I’ve always said at every club that I want to play and I went to every club to play. That hasn’t changed and that will never change.
“With regards to the group, there’s a new manager, everybody has a clean slate and everybody has something to prove to him. We all need to make sure that we’re at the forefront of his mind when it comes to Sheffield Wednesday.”
Alex Neil has met his new players and explained what he expects from them and his plans for the future; and Maxwell has been pleased with the early signs of his time at Deepdale.
“I think he’s going to be good for us, he clearly knows what he wants which is brilliant and he’s really enthusiastic so you can’t wish for any more than that from a manager.
“It’s interesting and it’s a good experience to listen to his views and his opinions. We need to get to grips with what he wants and we’ve got a few weeks now to all knuckle down to perform to our best at the start of the season.”