Midfielder Brad Potts aims to be more involved in Preston North End’s run-in to the season

The midfielder is looking to play more of a part when the season restarts than he was doing before football was halted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is likely to be all hands on deck when the campaign resumes, with nine games in a 33-day period.

All being well, there would then be play-offs added to that schedule – PNE will restart in sixth place.

Potts said: “The manager has mentioned to us how busy we are going to be.

“We are going to have a lot of games in a short period of time and that might take its toll on some players.

“So the whole squad is going to get used and we’ve got to make sure we are ready for whenever we are called upon to play. We’ve got quite a big squad, some good competition for places.

“It’s down to the manager who he picks but it’s up to the lads to be at our best in training to try and force our way into the starting XI.

“My aim is to be involved more than I have been.

“Before the lockdown I got back into the side at Fulham and felt I did well.

“I wanted to try and build on that momentum but then I missed the QPR game, having had a bit of a niggle.

“That was frustrating, I just want to play and help the lads as much as I can.”

How the season shapes up on its return is difficult to predict.

There is the long break in the fixture list to consider, so too games being played behind closed doors. There is no form guide, with teams last having played in the Championship on March 7.

Potts said: “It’s tight in and around the play-offs and we know what we have to do to stay in the top six.

“It will be strange for all the clubs because of how long ago the last game was.”

Potts has quickly got used to the new training routine and feels North End will be in good shape to resume.

The 25-year-old said: “It was training in groups of five to start with which felt a bit different.

“Now we are training as normally as possible but we are trying to limit our time at the training ground.

“You turn up in your kit, train, go home and wash your own kit there.

“In the past we would come in for breakfast, do pre-hab work and then train.

“Now it is a case of coming in, cracking on and leaving.

“You either do pre-hab work at home or get there a few minutes earlier and do that work on the pitch.

“It is not the same as how it was but you adapt quickly and just get on with it. We are still working very hard.”