Scott Sinclair feels he’s back up to full speed after featuring in Championship action for the first time since August in the goalless draw against Derby County.
The forward has been on the bench for the last three games in the league, but before that he was sidelined through illness, which he has confirmed was Covid.
He then came on in the 58th minute in the draw against Derby, after featuring twice in the international break in Central League and Lancashire Senior Cup action.
“I’ve been out with Covid, struggling with that but now I’m fully fit and ready to go,” said PNE’s No.31.
“I felt like I came on and made an impact, but it’s bit by bit now and I’ll be looking to play. It’s just getting up to speed from Covid, but I’m fully fit now, I’m over it and I’m ready to go.
“Obviously I’ve played in the reserves a couple of times and just doing extra running, coming in on my days off just to do that extra bit to get up to speed. Like I said, I’m up to speed now. I’m fully fit and I’m ready to go.
“I came on; I feel like I was lively. I had a couple of half chances and for me it’s just about getting into those positions to score goals. Obviously I’m here to get those goals, to get the chances and next time I should take them.”
The draw against Derby marked a seventh game in succession without a victory and that’s been a source of frustration for the squad, as admitted by Scott.
But he feels that once they get that win, it could kick the side on to put together a good run of form.
Scott added: “Obviously it was a tough game. We had a few chances, so did they, but this is it in the Championship, you never know what you’re going to get.
“It’s up to us to start putting that right and winning games. Unfortunately we haven’t won a game for a long time, but it’s going to come.
“You can feel it in the dressing room, as soon as we get that win, I think we’ll go on a roll. We’ve got that desire and the passion in the squad to keep working hard towards the win and I’m sure that will bounce us up the table.”
The build-up to this game was of course much different to most, given the sad passing of our owner, Mr Trevor Hemmings, at the beginning of the week.
Tickets were made just £5 for all, with all gate receipts being donated to charities he supported, and that drew a crowd of over 18,000.
It proved to be an emotional day, with a tribute video displayed on the big screen, a flat cap placed in the centre circle and then behind the goal in front of the Alan Kelly Town End just a couple of gestures to mark the occasion.
On the week leading up to the game, Scott said: “It has obviously been very sad and everyone’s heartbroken to see the boss pass.
“It would have been nice to have a good send off and with the three points, but unfortunately we come away with a point. This week’s been tough and everyone’s feeling it but we tried our best today.
“I think the main thing is as well with all the fans that turned out today, they’re always great in supporting us all the time and obviously an extra few turned it. It was great to see the ticket prices drop a bit so everyone could afford to get in and watch us play so that’s always a nice touch.”
Hear more from Scott in his full interview at the top of the page.