Scott Sinclair’s list of honours is impressive and the winger is determined to add more to his collection at North End - although he will have to find a room in his new house to put all his medals in!
After rewriting the record books by helping Celtic clinch the treble-treble from 2016 to 2019, the 30-year-old has been an FA Cup runner-up with Aston Villa in 2015 and, before that, he helped today’s opponents Swansea City into the Premier League, among other accolades.
Scott, born in Bath, has had 13 clubs on his CV but a large number were when he was at Chelsea, where he was loaned out six times to gain vital experience, and he admits he has been used to moving around, but, having signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Deepdale, he is keen to put down his roots in the north west.
This is with his partner, former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, and their two daughters, Matilda, who is four-and-a-half, and Delilah, who is 18 months.
“It’s great to be here,” smiled a relaxed Scott at PNE’s Springfields training ground after a tough training session and extra time in the gym.
“Settling in, it’s not just on the pitch, it’s off the pitch as well with the family as we are looking at houses at the moment and nurseries for Matilda. We are still in a hotel at the moment.
“As footballers, everyone just sees that everything is great, but off the field it can be stressful when you are moving with the missus and kids, but once we get a house, we will be sorted.
“It’s part and parcel of being a footballer and you do just get on with it.”
It’s only three weeks into his PNE career, but Scott is getting to grips with the routine, he has been a part of a three-game unbeaten run for North End which has revitalised their promotion push and he is relishing today’s game against his former club.
Former Chelsea and Manchester City winger Scott scored a hat-trick at Wembley for the Swans against Reading in 2011, including two penalties, to take them into the Premier League.
“It’s going to be nice to play Swansea, see some old faces and friends, there are still some people I know although it feels like I have been far away from it for such a long time.
“It was a really special moment to get a hat-trick at Wembley and to get promoted was a great memory. To get into the Premier League, it was great for Swansea and everyone involved in the city.
“I will always have a soft spot for them, I had a good few years there, they were great memories and obviously, when you get promoted into the Premier League, as a footballer you couldn’t be happier.
“I have had so many highs in my career – and I guess a few lows as well.
“I started my career at Bristol Rovers, I made my debut at 15 in League Two and then I had to go to school for the next few days, that was pretty fun.
“When I went to Chelsea, it was brilliant. I had a football education going through the ranks from youth team to first team and learning from the best players.
“As a young player, it’s the best thing to have if you have other players who are in front of you and older than you who can give you knowledge and give you guidance.
“I also went out on loan quite a few times to get experience and that helped me.
“At Manchester City, it was the same, but was a little bit more difficult as I didn’t get as much game time as I would have liked.
“I had come from Swansea and I was more established, I had played in the Premier League, but again you are playing with unbelievable and world class players who you learn from and you take on their advice when you move on.
“Then I have had a massive three-and-a-half years at Celtic and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
“I am used to winning games, winning trophies and making history, that’s what I did with Celtic and that’s what I want to continue doing. Hopefully there are more highs to come at PNE.”
There’s plenty more from Scott is this Saturday’s edition of The One And Only, which also has interviews and features with Ben Davies, Jack King, David Lucas, Patrick Bauer and Simon Davey.
This is another packed full 84-pages, on sale from Friday afternoon from the Sir Tom Finney Stand ticket office, or from inside and outside the stadium on matchday, still for just £3 per copy.