After making his PNE debut at the weekend, Duane Holmes is hoping to get more minutes in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Salford City.
The summer recruit from Huddersfield Town was a 72nd-minute substitute in the opening day draw against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Having recently come back from an injury, the midfielder is looking for another opportunity to feature in the round one clash at Deepdale on Tuesday.
Duane said: “I’m really looking forward to it. It was nice to get some minutes in the legs [on Saturday].
“Coming back from injury is never nice so hopefully I get more minutes on Tuesday and start working towards full fitness again.”
Facing opponents from Sky Bet League Two, North End will be looking to avoid being on the wrong side of a cup upset.
Duane has featured 12 times in this competition throughout his career so knows what it’s about, and he’s backed the manager in stressing PNE will be taking the clash with the Ammies seriously.
He said: “I think we’re an honest, hard-working bunch and we’ll be professional and go out there to win the game.
“I’ve been on both sides of it. I’ve been the lower team trying to knock the big boys out and I’ve been to the big boy stadiums and we’ve beaten them.
“It’s great. It’s nice when you get to play against the big teams.
“We’ve got to beat Salford tomorrow and then we’ve got a chance of getting one of the big teams.
“I remember we went to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge in the same season when I was at Derby and it’s nice to put yourself against the best players, and that’s what we’re looking to do.”
The Salford City clash is part of a double header at Deepdale, with Sunderland set to arrive in Lancashire this weekend for the second match of the league campaign.
North End’s season began with a 1-1 draw against Bristol City, and Duane played an important role in Will Keane’s equalising goal.
“We said before the game the bare minimum is we leave with a point and I think we were unlucky not to get all three,” he added.
“We made some good chances. We hit the post, we probably should have had a penalty, but then again our goal had a slight hint of handball.
“We were happy with a point, but we felt we’d done enough to get all three.”