Preston North End players tell Graham Alexander they want 'extra work' in international break

Graham Alexander says several senior Preston North End players have suggested training on their scheduled days off during the international break, in order to do 'whatever it takes to turn' the club's predicament around.

With just five points after 14 games, Preston have the worst set of results at this stage of a Championship season ever, on goal difference, and are already nine points from safety.

The gap is looking increasingly insurmountable and it's promotion-chasing Southampton up next at Deepdale on Saturday, before club football is put on hold for the final international break of 2026.

Alexander hopes the two-week break can be used as a 'reset' and revealed some of the club's senior stars have suggested putting in 'extra work' to him.

"The most important thing now is Saturday's game," he told BBC Radio Lancashire on Wednesday.

"But planning ahead, I've already spoke to a few of the senior players today about the work we have to do in that period.

"We can't see it as a break. We have to work.

"The players want to work, we had a great meeting with eight or nine seniors on Monday where they actually suggested to me about the days that we have off, coming in and doing extra work and doing whatever it takes to turn this around.

"Which is brilliant from my perspective as a manager, to see players coming to us to suggest more work, which is really important."

"They're carrying a baggage of the past"

Having now been in charge of his Preston players for six games, Alexander believes he has learnt a lot more about them, leading him to realise the 'fresh start' he wanted has been made difficult by their previous struggles.

Though he stressed a two-week break isn't a lot of time, he is planning to utilise it as much as possible.

He said: "There's only so much you can do in a two-week window, it's only one weekend off.

"The first two weeks, no game, you can only see a certain amount, it's the games that really tell you what we're dealing with.

"The three-and-a-half weeks has told me a lot about what the group needs and what they've been through in the past, really.

"I wanted it to be a fresh start when we came in, but I think they're carrying a baggage of the past. I can understand that. It's my job and the other coaches' jobs to help them put that down, if they can, and see the rest of the season as an opportunity, with less games obviously, but almost like a new season if we can.

"It could potentially work as a reset."

Alexander praises Leo Leroy

Leo Leroy scored Preston's first goal in the eventual 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United with a fine finish into the roof of the net two minutes in.

The Frenchman will miss Saturday's game, though, as he also picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will serve a one-game ban.

When asked how he feels Leroy is settling into English football after his transfer from Basel in the summer, Alexander said: "You can see his talent, you can see his technique and composure on the ball, but the Championship and actually the whole of England is a different level of intensity throughout the world.

"Everyone talks about it, the intensity of English football, the fight you need to be involved with.

"So I expect any player coming from a different country and someone so experienced to have a period of adjustment.

"I think he's an intelligent footballer, he's an intelligent guy. I think he's conscientious. He trains well. I think he's picking it up probably quicker than others, maybe.

"I thought he's shown that in the few appearances he's had just in my time.

"He's a really quiet lad but you know he knows football, and he's desperate to do well. I was so pleased to see him in that area last night to score the goal, because it's something we need to add to our game, those wing-backs and midfield runners get into those goal-scoring areas.

"They've definitely got the talent, these individuals, but you have to be close enough to the goal to be able to score.

"He's a good player."