Andrew Hughes is hopeful of putting together a good run of games, following a frustrating period of injury and illness.
The Welsh defender started the opening five games of the Championship season, but was forced off with a shoulder injury in the home match against Watford before then missing the next three.
He returned briefly prior to the international break, before then suffering with illness, and after featuring in the last two, he’s hoping his worries are now behind him.
Asked if it’s been a frustrating period, Hughesy said: “It has been. I’d like to think I’m over that hill now, and hopefully I can crack on with the rest of the season and hopefully pick nothing up.
“It’s horrible when you’re injured. You’re in early, you finish late, just watching the boys preparing for games and not being involved is the worst feeling.”
He started for the first time in four matches in the midweek defeat to Bristol City, lining up in an unfamiliar position on the right of the back three.
Hughes scored his first goal of the campaign with an 82nd-minute equaliser, but Rob Atkinson’s second of the game in the 90th minute helped the hosts take three points.
Speaking about his goal, Andrew said: “It was a bit of a mixed [feeling]; I was actually quite angry with myself.
“I know I was on the opposite side, but I felt like I had a really bad game, so even when I scored I wasn’t on a high as much as I thought I would be, but at the time it was nice to get the equaliser. It was just a shame we couldn’t leave with a point at least.
“I think in the grand scheme of things we didn’t deserve anything from the game anyway, but after getting ourselves back in the game, it would have been nice to have left with a draw.”
North End quickly move on to Saturday, when Stoke City are the visitors, and they will arrive on the back of a 3-1 victory over league leaders Sheffield United last weekend.
For PNE, it’ll be a return to Deepdale following back-to-back trips to Norwich and Bristol.
“They have been long journeys," added Hughesy, “so it’ll be nice to get back to the old stomping ground and try to put a good performance on.
“We know what they’re about. We’ve always said it’s about what we do, so as long as we prepare right and execute the gameplan, then we shouldn’t have any issues.”
You can watch Hughesy's full interview on iFollow PNE above.