Injury was a real pain in the backside for Preston North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd

Rudd tore a glute muscle in his backside in pre-season and missed the opening game of the campaign.

He managed to get back ahead of schedule, making his return in the Carabao Cup win at Derby a fortnight ago.

The 29-year-old has since featured in the Championship games against former club Norwich and Stoke.

Rudd said: “I tore my glute –the bum muscle – I had a 12cm tear in it.

“To get back to fitness I’ve pushed things and worked hard, I got back in four weeks, which was good going.

“It sounds bizarre but I got the injury in training, rolling out the ball to the midfield during a session.

“I rolled the ball out and it felt like I had been shot, the pain was something else.

“It was unfortunate but I’m back playing now.”

Rudd conceded a soft goal at Norwich but put in a good performance against Stoke on Saturday, making a couple of good saves from Potters skipper Sam Clucas.

A full week of training in the build-up to the Stoke game was of benefit – Connor Ripley having faced Brighton last Wednesday.

Said Rudd: “I felt back to normal on Saturday.

“I only trained once before the Derby game and once properly before playing at Norwich.

“Probably I was still trying to get going in that game.

“I had a full week of training ahead of playing Stoke and I felt much better, more where I should be both mentally and physically.”

Rudd and his North End team-mates have now turned their attention to Sunday’s visit to Brentford.

The clash at the Bees’ new stadium has been put back to Sunday as Thomas Frank’s side are playing Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Thursday.

“We’ll be raring to go for Sunday, to try and get something down there,” said Rudd.

“Brentford away is a tough one – I can’t remember us going there and getting a win so it would be nice if we could do it this time.

“We need to get off the mark as far as a win is concerned in the league – we’ve had two losses and a draw.

“That’s nothing to get worried about, we still have 43 games left in the league this season.

“But the longer it takes you to get that win, the harder it can be.”

Meanwhile, PNE’s appeal against the red card shown to Tom Barkhuizen in the Stoke game will be heard today by an FA disciplinary panel.

Barkhuizen was sent off in the 22nd minute for a sliding challenge on Morgan Fox and faces a three-match ban.