It’s been a testing few weeks of pre-season where North End have pitted themselves against a variety of opposition - and after coming out of two games against Premier League opposition - PNE’s Callum Robinson feels he and his team-mates have a good idea of where they’re at heading into the final week or two of pre-season.
Robinson, who he himself managed to get on the scoresheet as North End were narrowly beaten 3-2 against Burnley tonight spoke to iFollowPNE after gaining a full 90 minutes in his legs.
“I really enjoyed it and it was personally really good to get a 90 minutes under my belt,” said PNE's No. seven.
“I thought the lads did really well – it was obviously a bit disappointing to concede near the end but the main thing for the lads is to get more minutes and push themselves more towards that first game of the season.
“We’ve had two different teams over the course of these two games and that just proves the level of the players that we’ve got now. The lads did great on Saturday against a Premier League side in West Ham and then the lads tonight have done really well so it just proves how far, individually and collectively we’ve come.
“West Ham have got a lot of good players as we seen on Saturday, obviously I didn’t play in that one but I was watching and the lads did great then and tonight, and it’s always good to play against the top players because that’s what you want to do as footballers - especially our group of players who want to be in the Premier League - to see how you are individually and to see how you can beat these Premier League players. Both games were a really good test and we really enjoyed it.”
Robinson’s goal came at a perfect time as just two minutes before, Burnley took the lead for the first time in the game through Dan Agyei before Robinson levelled proceedings, and Robinson spoke about his goal - and the threat of PNE’s forward line this evening.
He continued: "It’s always good to get a goal but I think the forward lads have been doing really well and it’s good to have that competition."
“Seani did great tonight, we all put a shift in and it’s going to give the gaffer a headache but collectively we know it’s a long season and as long as we can stick together, chip in with goals and assists, that’s the main thing.”
Robinson’s full interview can be accessed via iFollowPNE now.