'I don't think' - Preston North End stalwart opens up on injury-hit year and Hull City setback
The PNE stalwart has endured a frustrating year through injury
Preston North End midfielder Brad Potts doesn’t believe the last few seasons have taken its toll on him.
Since the 2021/22 campaign, the number 44 has predominantly been deployed at right wing-back. Potts made 40 appearances in that particular campaign with 41, 32, and 34 managed since, across all competitions.
This year, however, Potts has only featured on seven occasions following a hamstring setback this time last year. While it’s a demanding role to carry out for the team, the 31-year-old does not reflect on that being the issue.
“I think that's my game isn't it, really?” said Potts. “So, I don't think that's been the problem. I had my setback at Sunderland away last year and then, I don't know if I was maybe not doing things right, coming back too early, or doing too much when I was back.
“It was just managing all that. I don't think it had anything to do with playing constantly because I was happy doing that; I felt good doing that. But yeah, I just want to get back to what I was really. Hopefully, that'll be as soon as possible.”
Potts made his long awaited return to the pitch on December 20, at home to Norwich. He played in three of the four games after that before suffering a setback against Hull. The former Barnsley man had to miss a further month as a result, which came as a blow given how he was starting to feel on the field.
“Yeah, it wasn't ideal being out for so long but I kind of felt in the Derby game I was getting slowly back to myself,” Potts said. “Then on the Tuesday night I got injured, so it was a bit deflating. I think I was only out for a few weeks so it could’ve been worse. I just worked hard just to get back. I'm glad I didn't miss too much.”
On PNE’s season and recent form
It has been a unique campaign for Potts, watching from the stands for the majority of it up to this point. Until the last few weeks, Paul Heckingbottom’s side were well in the play-off shake up. Having battled relegation on the final day of last season, Potts felt there was clear progress being made but he knows improvement is now required.
“I think we've been a lot better this season, probably off the ball and I think you've seen we've got some lads who can change a game,” said Potts. “You look at Alfie and Dobbs, they're brilliant attacking players.
“You've got to be solid defensively as well as good in attack. I think we were doing that. But, the run we've been on, we’ve probably gone away from it. Maybe it's a bit easy to play against and we haven't really been scoring goals. If you put that together, you're not going to win games.”