Josh Harrop has spent pre-season trying to use any opportunity he gets to impress head coach Frankie McAvoy.
The attacking midfielder has returned to the club this summer after his loan spell with Ipswich Town in the second half of the last campaign and has been used throughout the course of pre-season.
He started the summer with a goal in the opening friendly against Bamber Bridge and has featured in other games against the likes of Manchester City and Celtic.
Harrop told iFollow PNE: “Every game you get to play in is an opportunity. You’ve got to basically broadcast what you can do in pre-season, do everything the manager asks you to do, buy into everything he wants you to do and take the opportunities when you get them, and that’s what I’ve got to do this season.
“I think it’s been a good pre-season for all the lads, got a lot of minutes in the legs and it’s good now we’ve got all the running and that out the way, and it’s about preparing for the season now.
“You want good tests in pre-season to see where you are as a team and I think we’ve come out of them strong, and all the lads are ready and can’t wait for the season to start.”
PNE finalise their pre-season preparations this weekend with games against Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, the latter being of particular interest to Josh given his links with the club.
He came through the Academy at Old Trafford and made his debut for the Red Devils just prior to his move to Deepdale.
Saturday’s friendly will also see the return of supporters into the historic stadium, so it will likely be a special occasion for all.
“It’ll be a good test for the lads,” added Josh. “There’ll be a few familiar faces that are probably still there that I know from my time there, so it will be a good experience for everyone.
“It will be the first game we’ve played at Deepdale as well so it’ll be good to be back there.
“It will be great [to see the fans again]. Football’s not the same without the fans, I think everyone can see that from the last year.
“Playing is just not the same. When you’ve got the fans there it’s a completely different atmosphere, games are completely different so it will be great to have them back. All the lads will be buzzing with it.”
The start of the Championship season is now just over a week away, with the Lilywhites kicking off the campaign on 7th August against Hull City.
That afternoon will mark the first competitive fixture for Frankie McAvoy as full-time head coach, and Josh is enjoying playing under the Scot.
Josh said: “It’s good to be working under Frankie as the new manager this season. He’s got his style of play slightly different to the old ways and it’s good.
“Everyone’s bought into it and hopefully we can have a great season under him.”
Watch Josh’s full interview on iFollow PNE at the top of the page.