'To be honest' - Preston North End man's admission on this season and major aim moving forward
PNE signed the defender from Plymouth Argyle last year
Preston North End defender Lewis Gibson knows there’s still lots of room for improvement in his own game.
Furthermore, the 25-year-old has underlined his aim to limit injury frustration moving forwards. PNE signed the centre-back in January 2025, for a reported £1.5million plus from Plymouth Argyle.
Gibson’s first few performances immediately caught the eyes of Preston supporters and, when fit, he has been a regular in the starting XI ever since. But, the defender does not want to get comfortable and will be pushing himself as much as possible.
”Yeah, I always think so,” said Gibson. “I'm looking to do that on the pitch and off the pitch. There's always so many different dimensions you can add, to take your game to the next level. I'll never be satisfied, so yeah, I always think to push on.
“To be honest, it's been difficult this season, on and off the pitch. But yeah, I think the big injury towards the October time, that was just a tough one to take. It's a long time to be out and then obviously, my shoulder in the last few weeks. These things happen in the game but yeah, looking to end strong in the last five.”
Gibson: PNE must go right to the end
”I think you used the word important, I would agree with that,” said the PNE man. “Going into next season as well, I think it's important to end strong. The play-offs obviously open up to eight teams, so I think it's massive to give everything you've got in the last five games and not come off it. That's what we're hoping to do.”
North End were in and amongst the Championship top six for the vast majority of the season but, since January, have fallen out of the picture. Heckingbottom recently said the Lilywhites must strive to get back into the position they found themselves in, at the turn of the year. Preston’s number 19 believes the group must take some confidence from the first half of the season, but knows it’s all about taking those extra steps.
“Yeah, of course,” said Gibson. “You play football to win games and be at the other end of the table. We've found ourselves mid-table but we want to be at the top end, we want to be competing. That's what you play football for, so that's the goal.”