When speaking to The One And Only’s programme editor Dany Robson, Ben Pearson admitted he probably does play too much on his computer games – but uses it as a way to relax from the pressures of football life.
The 23-year-old has been at Deepdale since 2016 and was a big part as North End narrowly missed out on the Play-Offs last season, like Saturday’s opponents Millwall.
He says he does initially take bad results personally so he is enjoying life more now that North End have turned their season around with just one defeat in the last 11 games.
He does dwell on his own performances at times, despite being praised by manager Alex Neil as the best defensive midfielder in the Championship, so in his down time he turns to the popular Xbox game Fortnight – and admits he is pretty good at it!
“It’s nice to hear the gaffer say things like that but I know what I am capable of at this level,” said Ben, who came through the ranks at Manchester United.
“I have proven it for the last few years now so I understand my level in the Championship and I know where I can get to.
“It’s obviously nice to hear things, I suppose myself I know when I have played well or played badly.
“Like any game, if you win you are buzzing and if you lose you have a bad weekend. I do take defeats to heart for that night, the Saturday night.
“I think about my own personal game and what I could have done better if I haven’t played well. It does play on my mind but I sleep on it, wake up and then you have to move on as you can’t let it get you down all week.”
There is loads more from Ben in Saturday’s edition of the matchday programme, plus interviews and features with many more, including, Declan Rudd, Jack Baxter, Ian Bogie, Danny Dichio and Paul Gallagher.
The 100-page edition of the official matchday programme is still just £3 and is on sale from Friday afternoon from the club’s Sir Tom Finney Stand ticket office and from the sellers inside and outside the ground on matchday, so make sure you pick up your copy.