Midfielder Tom Bayliss says Preston North End won’t fear tough start to season

The Lilywhites kick off their Championship game with Swansea City’s visit to Deepdale on Saturday, the South Wales outfit reaching the play-off semi-finals in July.

Alex Neil takes North End to face his former club Norwich a week later, with the Canaries back in the division after a year in the Premier League.

There is then a home clash with Stoke who are expected to be a stronger outfit this time than they were last season, before PNE take on beaten play-off finalists Brentford at their new ground.

Throw in next Tuesday evening’s Carabao Cup tie at Derby and it is a tough batch of games before the October international break. Midfielder Bayliss, who is aiming to get much more of a look-in this season after being used sparingly in 2019/20, said: “We’ve got play everyone at some point – it doesn’t matter when you play them.

“We will be prepped and ready to play whoever, whenever.

“What we are aiming to do is start the season on the front foot and take it from there.

“We’ve got Swansea to start with who are a very good side. We had two games against them last season – they edged us out down at their place and we drew at home.

“It is a tough opening-day game but we will be ready for it, all the lads are raring to go.”

Bayliss arrived at Preston in a big-money move from Coventry 13 months ago.

He featured in four cup games in the first half of the season and then damaged ankle ligaments in January during a bounce game.

The 21-year-old had surgery the following month, with the long pause in the season from March to June allowing him to get back fit to be involved with the squad after the restart.

But it was not until the final day of the season at Bristol City that he made his league bow for PNE, coming off the bench.

Bayliss has enjoyed the build-up to the new season, playing 90 minutes against Everton last Saturday.

“Pre-season has been really good, we’ve worked very hard,” said the midfielder.

“I played the Salford friendly, started against Mansfield in the cup, got a few minutes against Burnley and then played the full game at Everton.

“There have been a lot of games in a short space of time and all players will tell you they prefer to play than train.

“I enjoyed playing against Everton, they had some quality players and it was a good test for us all.

“It was great for fitness and knowing I got 90 minutes in my legs against a Premier League team was good.”