Ali McCann is looking to get his spot in the team back after returning from injury last week.
The midfielder has featured in every game he’s been available for so far this season, but was left sidelined for eight matches due to a calf issue.
Coming off the bench in the previous outing against Queens Park Rangers, he’s now hoping to work his way back into the starting XI for Saturday’s visit to Norwich City.
Ali said: “I feel good now to start with, but it’s obviously a disappointing time.
“It’s never nice picking up injuries. I missed quite a few games which is disappointing.
“I hate sitting watching the games and was just itching to get back, so it was nice to be back involved on Friday. Obviously it didn’t go as planned, but it was good to be back involved.
“It's the matchdays for me [I miss] when you’re out of the loop of everything that’s going on and then you’re watching the games and there’s nothing you can do to affect the games.
“I just hate it to be honest but now hopefully I can get back in the team and get a little spell. It has been long but I’m over the worst of it now.”
As much as Ali wants to regain his spot in the team, he knows it won’t be an easy task given the level of competition in the middle of the park.
There have been plenty of different combinations used so far this season in central midfield, and Ali has complete trust in whoever it is who gets chosen.
He said: “The squad’s in quite a good position at the minute so we’re just all itching to get back.
“It’s one of them, if you don’t play on the Saturday then there’s loads of games coming up so everyone will be utilised at some point, so you’ve got to keep yourself ready and do the best you can.
“It’s healthy competition so you know that if you’re in the team you need to be at it and you need to perform to stay in, so it can only be a good thing.”
Ali and his teammates will head to Carrow Road this weekend 14 months on from a superb victory in East Anglia, as North End came from behind to win 3-2.
As for right now, the Canaries head into the weekend having won three of their last four, while PNE will want to get back to winning ways.
Reflecting on last year’s win, Ali said: “It was a great away day; it was brilliant.
“We actually struggled for the first ten minutes, we were up against it but to get back in the game and to end up going to get the win in the end was class.
“If we can apply ourselves in that manner again then I’m sure we can come away with three points again.”