"It was the one game I didn't want to miss!" - Preston North End defender on rare ban last week

The defender came back into the starting XI at the weekend as Ryan Lowe’s side were beaten by Stoke City, having served a one game suspension for picking up five bookings so far this season.

It was the first time in the 25-year-old’s career that he had to sit out a game due to his own ill-discipline, with an astonishing record for bookings. In 153 games so far, Storey has only been booked 11 times and has played in three play-off campaigns with Exeter City and Sheffield Wednesday.

He said: “It was disappointing because it was the one game that I didn't want to miss. I had all my family come down, I was gutted to miss it. It was typical, it was a shame.

"I've seen something about my yellow card record that I hadn't had one for 80-odd games, so that was some record. Now I can't stop getting them. It's funny how things change.

"When I've played the game longer and longer you know where to make tactical fouls to stop teams breaking on you, I'm all for picking up cards if it helps buy us some time or get some numbers behind the ball.

"It's hard watching, you're itching to play. It was difficult to sit back and watch but hopefully I don't rack up another five yellow cards any time soon.”

PNE are currently in the bottom half of the table with a game against Huddersfield Town tonight, 7:45pm, that could see them jump up into play-off contention.

With North End unable so far to put a run of results together, aside from a host of draws to start the season, Storey knows how difficult it can be to find regular performances but also knows the difference they can make.

He said: “The league is so difficult it is hard to get consistency with how the league is. On their day, anyone can beat anyone, you've seen that with some of the results that have come in already this season.

"So the teams that can find a bit of consistency can fly up the table. We need to make sure that's us."