PNE must finish on the Wright note

The central defender says the campaign has produced different challenges as the weeks and months have gone by, ones which in general PNE have met.

There has been a recent dip in results, with the Lilywhites heading into Saturday’s visit to Reading without a win in five matches.

So the immediate challenge for Wright and his team-mates is to bring home three points from the Madjeski Stadium.

The following week, a clash with Leeds United at Deepdale brings the curtain down on the season.

Wright told the Evening Post: “I think it has been a positive and successful season for us.

“There was a period of time this season when we had an eye on the play-offs and were pushing for that.

“We have enjoyed playing at this level and challenging ourselves every week.

“Our first aim was to stay up but once we settled into the division, we reassessed it and wanted more.

“There have been some really good performances from us, while there have been other occasions when we haven’t been at our best.

“We have learned things from every game, whatever the result was.

“This season has gone so quickly, we are down to the last two games now.

“Reading on Saturday is the last away match and we want to go and win there.

“We aren’t relaxing, we are not on holiday.

“On Monday morning we had a training session which was really tough, there’s been no let-up.

“It will be a tough game down there at Reading but we beat them at Deepdale before Christmas and it would be nice to do the double.”

North End are looking to bounce back from Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley, a result which sent the Clarets back to the top of the Championship.

Wright, 23, believes there is much which can be learned from the derby defeat.

He said: “Burnley are a very good side, well organised and they made it difficult for us.

“They had that bit of luck with the goal, luck which maybe we didn’t have.

“Burnley are the marker for those who want to challenge at the top end of the division.

“We can’t compete with the budgets being spent by other clubs but we know what we can do better and where we need to improve.”

Wright’s season will not end after the Leeds game – he potentially has three matches for Australia.

The first of those is against England at the Stadium of Light on May 27, then they play Greece twice in June.

Said Wright: “It will be great if I’m selected against England, the game is part of the preparations for Euro 2016. I have been in the country for nearly seven years and I’m proud of my time here.

“After that, we play two friendlies with Greece, the first in Sydney and then in Melbourne – my home city.

“In September, the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers start for us.

“I’ll try and get a short break between our season finishing and joining up with Australia.

“After the internationals, I’ll hopefully get away and get a bit of sun because I haven’t seen much of it for a while.”