08-08-2024, 12:48
Ryan Lowe discussed the importance of “starters and finishers” within his squad ahead of the opening match of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Six weeks of pre-season are now behind us and the action is about to get underway once again, with North End kicking the new campaign off at Deepdale on Friday night against Sheffield United.
The players have been busy fighting for places in training and in matches to get in that starting XI, but the manager wants those not selected to start to not be too disheartened, with everyone having an important role to play.
Ryan said: “It’s so tough. Two days before a game I hardly sleep because I’m thinking and I’m going to let some players down. They may feel that they should start, but I’ve told them they can’t be disappointed thinking that they’re not in the team for the first game.
“It could change for the second game and it definitely will because of the campaign in the Championship. The players have been fantastic and credit where credit’s due because they’ve worked ever so hard throughout pre-season and in games.
“I know results have been indifferent but I’ve seen a lot of good stuff in all them games. Unfortunately you can only pick 11 players. I’m hoping them players, the starters and the finishers, can do themselves and the football club proud on Friday night.”
One question mark during the past week or so has been surrounding No.1 Freddie Woodman and if he’ll be able to make the opening game.
He missed the Salford City friendly due to illness and was then absent with injury for the home clash with Everton, but the manager seems hopeful he’ll be available for selection.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ryan said: “Freddie’s trained today so if he comes through that and if he’s fine tomorrow he’ll be ready to go.
“We’ve wrapped him up in cotton wool. We knew it wasn’t going to be serious which was big for us, it was great news, and he’s worked ever so hard to get to this stage now. If he’s fine tomorrow when he reports then he’ll hopefully be fine for Friday night.
“Ali McCann’s now just doing a mini pre-season as such because he’s missed large parts of pre-season where the lads’ high intensity runs have been higher, the sprints have been higher, and overall stats have been better from the last two and a half seasons or so. That’s important for us. Ali will miss out but hopefully Freddie’s fully fit and available.”
Layton Stewart will also miss out due to a minor muscle injury, however he could be back in contention as early as Tuesday, when North End take on Sunderland in the Carabao Cup.
Under Ryan Lowe, PNE have had interesting starts to Championship campaigns. The first saw the team go seven matches without conceding a goal, whereas last term there were no defeats in the opening eight and the Lilywhites sat top of the table.
Ryan said: “The two starts to the seasons have been indifferent, of course. We didn’t score a goal for a while but didn’t lose for a while [in the 2022/23 season], and then the last one winning six on the bounce and finding ourselves in them top positions.
“If we can get off to a good start and a consistent start I’ll be pleased again. We know that it’s not just the first four or five games, it wasn’t last season.
“It’s a course of 46 and we need to better at starting the season, in the middle of the season, and ending the season because that’s what the stats say, and if we can do that hopefully we’ll have a successful season.”
Six weeks of pre-season are now behind us and the action is about to get underway once again, with North End kicking the new campaign off at Deepdale on Friday night against Sheffield United.
The players have been busy fighting for places in training and in matches to get in that starting XI, but the manager wants those not selected to start to not be too disheartened, with everyone having an important role to play.
Ryan said: “It’s so tough. Two days before a game I hardly sleep because I’m thinking and I’m going to let some players down. They may feel that they should start, but I’ve told them they can’t be disappointed thinking that they’re not in the team for the first game.
“It could change for the second game and it definitely will because of the campaign in the Championship. The players have been fantastic and credit where credit’s due because they’ve worked ever so hard throughout pre-season and in games.
“I know results have been indifferent but I’ve seen a lot of good stuff in all them games. Unfortunately you can only pick 11 players. I’m hoping them players, the starters and the finishers, can do themselves and the football club proud on Friday night.”
One question mark during the past week or so has been surrounding No.1 Freddie Woodman and if he’ll be able to make the opening game.
He missed the Salford City friendly due to illness and was then absent with injury for the home clash with Everton, but the manager seems hopeful he’ll be available for selection.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ryan said: “Freddie’s trained today so if he comes through that and if he’s fine tomorrow he’ll be ready to go.
“We’ve wrapped him up in cotton wool. We knew it wasn’t going to be serious which was big for us, it was great news, and he’s worked ever so hard to get to this stage now. If he’s fine tomorrow when he reports then he’ll hopefully be fine for Friday night.
“Ali McCann’s now just doing a mini pre-season as such because he’s missed large parts of pre-season where the lads’ high intensity runs have been higher, the sprints have been higher, and overall stats have been better from the last two and a half seasons or so. That’s important for us. Ali will miss out but hopefully Freddie’s fully fit and available.”
Layton Stewart will also miss out due to a minor muscle injury, however he could be back in contention as early as Tuesday, when North End take on Sunderland in the Carabao Cup.
Under Ryan Lowe, PNE have had interesting starts to Championship campaigns. The first saw the team go seven matches without conceding a goal, whereas last term there were no defeats in the opening eight and the Lilywhites sat top of the table.
Ryan said: “The two starts to the seasons have been indifferent, of course. We didn’t score a goal for a while but didn’t lose for a while [in the 2022/23 season], and then the last one winning six on the bounce and finding ourselves in them top positions.
“If we can get off to a good start and a consistent start I’ll be pleased again. We know that it’s not just the first four or five games, it wasn’t last season.
“It’s a course of 46 and we need to better at starting the season, in the middle of the season, and ending the season because that’s what the stats say, and if we can do that hopefully we’ll have a successful season.”
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