Maxwell's target for new season

Goalkeeper Chris Maxwell thinks the Preston squad have plenty to prove following the summer break, due to the way they finished the season.
North End goalkeeper Chris MaxwellNorth End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell
North End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell

The Lilywhites took just one point from their last six games, a run which saw them finish in 11th place after at one stage being in with an outside chance of the play-offs.

After beating Bristol City 5-0 on April 4, they lost four on the bounce.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A drab 1-1 draw against Rotherham halted the losing run, before Simon Grayson’s men lost 1-0 to Wolves on the final day.

Maxwell said: “It was a poor run of results, we’ve got a point to prove now.

“We’ve got a point to prove to ourselves, to the club and to the fans.

“As the manager has said, it’s not acceptable the way the season ended and we’ve got to make sure we put that right come the start of the season and give ourselves the best possible chance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The manager has stressed to us that we’re to come back in the best possible shape we can so we can put it all into pre-season and come straight out of the blocks.

“This is going to be a big summer for the club and a big pre-season because I know what I want to achieve next season and what the fans want to achieve next season.”

It was this time last year that Maxwell agreed to join PNE on a Bosman deal from Fleetwood Town.

The Welshman initially came as back-up for Anders Lindegaard, with a challenge to push him to be first choice between the posts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

By the end of September, Maxwell had wrestled the gloves off Lindegaard and went on to establish himself in the team.

He started 38 of North End’s 46 league games and had an unbroken run of games in the Championship from the win over Wigan on September 25 through to the end of the season.

With Lindegaard released at the end of his contract, a new keeper will be on North End’s summer shopping list.

Whoever comes in, their job will be to challenge and push Maxwell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is understood that PNE have looked at two 
goalkeepers with Championship experience.

Declan Rudd, who spent a season-and-a half on loan at Deepdale from Norwich, has also been linked in the media.

The Canaries took up a year’s option on Rudd earlier this month after his return from a loan spell at Charlton.

As well as Maxwell, the other keepers on the books at Deepdale are Mathew Hudson and Callum Roberts.

Hudson has been the club’s third-choice keeper for the last two seasons.

Roberts joins the first-team squad after coming through the youth system.