Louis Moult reveals why he expects to be in the goals for Preston North End

Injury prevented Moult having a proper build-up to the previous two seasons with former club Motherwell.

But this summer at PNE, the striker has got all the work under his belt and featured in all six friendly games.

Moult told the Post: “A full pre-season was something I needed – this was my first for a couple of years due to injury.

“I’ve enjoyed it, I feel better, stronger and sharper for it.

“That is what pre-season is for, to get yourself into the right shape.

“It is difficult when you miss the work, it makes such a difference.

“In general the training here is a higher tempo and a quicker pace.

“When I signed last season it took me a couple of months to get used to it.

“I’m used to it now – I know what to expect and it is good to get through the work.”

Moult was on target as PNE finished off their pre-season friendly programme with a 3-0 win over Oldham on Saturday.

He netted the first goal at Boundary Park after coming on for Sean Maguire during the first half.

Maguire came off because of hamstring injury, one which is set to rule him out of the start of the season.

That would see Moult in the frame to start.

Said Moult: “We are two different types of player but we complement each other as well when we play together.

“It is good for the manager to have selection headaches.

“The manager believes he has a strong squad and can put out two different XIs which would do us proud.”

Friendly game or not, Moult was pleased to find the net against Oldham, getting on the end of a Graham Burke cross to net from close in.

In many ways, that was a trademark goal for the former Motherwell man.

“That is exactly the kind of player I am, getting in the box and scoring with a one-touch finish,” said Moult.

“A lot of my goals come from that type of area.

“It was a fantastic ball in from Burkey, I read what he was going to do.

“Collectively as a squad it was good to end with a victory at Oldham – three goals and a clean sheet.

“It was a realistic test for us, sometimes friendlies can be a bit fake.

“Saturday felt like a league game, I thought Oldham made it difficult for us but we stuck to our task and got the win.

“I think it was just what we needed because that is what most of the games will be like.

“It was tough, in-your-face, physical and eventually we broke them down.”