Preston North End skipper Callum Davidson intends using the international break to get up to speed after admitting being "below par" in his comeback game at Watford.
Saturday's 2-0 defeat to the Hornets was the 33-year-old's first game in two months following a torn hamstring.
It wasn't the best game to return in, PNE arguably producing their poorest performance of the campaign.
Davidson pulled no punches about the display and knows a big improvement is needed ahead of the visit of league leaders Newcastle United to Deepdale in 13 days.
He told the Lancashire Evening Post: "I felt fine at Watford in terms of the injury but I didn't play well.
"I've got to work really hard in training again and get myself back to a good level of fitness.
"My performance was way, way below par and it's something that I will look at myself.
"I felt nothing from the injury but felt a little bit rusty but I think I should have played better than that.
"I just want to train as hard as I can during the international break.
"There are still things I can do to improve myself for the team.
"After Saturday's performance I'll struggle to get back into the team but I hope I can show the manager in training that I'm good enough to stay in."
Davidson played 66 minutes at Vicarage Road before giving way to Paul Parry, his first slice of action since the 1-1 draw against Ipswich on August 29.
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