Young goalkeeper Mathew Hudson is looking forward to a new challenge in 2018/19 as he looks to take his career to the next level.
Hudson came through the Academy at PNE and after signing a new two-year deal this week, the 19-year-old hopes he can use his experiences over the last few years with the first team to make the step up to regular professional football.
The 'keeper will be looking to go out on loan ahead of the new season, and speaking after signing his new contract, Hudson told PNE.Com: "I have been here a long time now and I am at the stage now where I have matured enough to push myself to the limit and try and kick on.
"I've trained with a lot of really good goalkeepers and learnt a lot and got a lot of experience from the reserve games and pre-season games but now is the time that I need to get some proper games and I will be looking to do that.
"I am really thankful for the opportunity and thankful that I have been offered this contract and I am just looking forward kicking on now."
During his time at the club so far, the Academy graduate has worked alongside a number of experienced 'keepers, most notably Jordan Pickford who looks likely to Gareth Southgate's first choice goalkeeper for England at this summer's World Cup.
Pickford's pathway is something Hudson is hoping to emulate, he continued: "Jordan has taken the pathway that I would like to take, going on loan and really developing myself and maturing.
"Every club he's been at he's started off in the lower leagues and worked his way up and that's what I would like to do and then really show what I can do like he has.
"Jordan is likely to start at the World Cup and even to just be going to a World Cup at his age is brilliant in itself and it's something to look up to. It is great watching him play and training with him."
Along with Pickford, the young 'keeper was worked alongside experienced stopper Chris Kirkland, Manchester United's Sam Johnstone as well as current goalkeepers Chris Maxwell and Declan Rudd.
Hudson feels he has benefitted from working with each 'keeper for different reasons and is not hoping to replicate their success in his own career.
"I've learnt a lot from just being around the place and learning from the likes of Dec [Declan Rudd] and Maxi [Chris Maxwell] and even 'keepers before that. The likes of Jordan Pickford, Chris Kirkland and I was only a baby compared to Chris Kirkland but you learn so much from training with them day in and day out.
"The training comes naturally, you get better every day with the more you practice and the more you learn, but you just want to play really, Saturdays are what you look forward to so that's what I will be looking to do and hopefully I can push on from there.
"I'm still young and to have worked the kind of 'keepers that I have done at my age is something in itself. It's been brilliant and I've enjoyed working with every 'keeper that comes in no matter what age they are or what they have done. I've just really enjoyed being around the place and working with any sort of 'keeper.
"Every goalkeeper has their own different attributes whether it's height and size and that is reflected in the way they play in the games. Even just from watching the games, it can be really beneficial learning and seeing what they do and seeing what I can take in to my game."
With the focus primarily on the future, Matt also reflected on a fantastic 2017/18 campaign for the Lilywhites and his own progress over the last 12 months.
"It was a really good season looking back, everyone can see that the lads are ready now to try and push for a Premier League place and I really want to be part of that.
"It's been a really good year, training has stepped up a lot and we can see that the training is reflecting on the performances in the games. Everyone has stepped up, training and the goalkeeping sessions have all been really good.
"I've worked with three different coaches this year with Alan Kelly, Deano [Dean Kiely] and also Jack and they've been great. I've learnt different things from each coach and it's been great working with them all and I look forward to building on that next season."