PNE’s Paul Gallagher was glad to put his injury behind him ahead of this weekend’s game at Deepdale against Reading.
The midfielder, who was out for a month with a hamstring problem, returned to action against Derby County on Tuesday night.
Speaking of his return, Gallagher said: “It felt alright. When you have been out for a while you want to try and get back in straight away.
“You start running around like a mad man at first because you have been itching to play.”
Gallagher was disappointed that he couldn’t help the team to more than a point on the road and feels that the Lilywhites have been unlucky this season.
“I think we had a good goal disallowed which Callum scored with his head. It was a good header but sometimes you don’t get the rub of the green.
“Start of the second half we were a bit sloppy, conceded an unlucky goal, a deflection that helped them more than it helped us.
“It fell straight into the path of Vydra but we have that team spirit where we keep going and last minute we get an equaliser which we deserved really.”
PNE's No. 12 has now turned his attention to the impending arrival of Reading in PR1.
The Royals are currently fifth in the Championship table and have impressed this season, opting to use a possession based style of play.
North End have an impressive record against clubs above them in the table at Deepdale this campaign, overcoming second and third-placed Brighton and Huddersfield.
Gallagher knows Reading will be aware of how hard it is to win points away at Preston.
“We do up our game. If you look at the last few months; Villa, Brighton and then Sheffield Wendesday where we should have won.
“Teams like that know they are coming to Deepdale for a good game.”
Last season the Berkshire club finished 17th and the turnaround in their fortunes is largely down to the arrival of manager Jaap Stam.
Gallagher praised the influence the former Manchester United defender has had on Reading.
“Reading were a good team last season, we played them on the first game of the season and they were totally different.
“I remember going down there the later end of last season and I think we dominated the game.
“This season they are a totally different team. More possession based, Japp Stam has gone in there, put his philosophy onto the team and they are doing a good job.”
Gallagher wants this Saturday’s game to be the first win of string of results that will put the club firmly in the Play-Offs come the end of the season.
“Anyone who comes to Deepdale will know that we are a hard working team and will create chances if we can stay in the game.
“They are up and around us so we want to try and take maximum points.
“Ten games to go, 30 points to play for, teams have gone on runs where they have won six or seven games on the bounce.
“If we want to get into those Play-Offs it could all start with a good win on Saturday.”