Sean Maguire is looking for that extra edge from new training ground to take Preston North End to promotion

North End are due to move from their existing base at Springfields to the complex shortly, after buying the site for £1.6m from Wigan Athletic.

The Premier League-standard training ground with all the facilities which it has to offer will be of huge benefit to the Lilywhites squad as they target promotion to the top flight.

And for Maguire, who signed a new three-year contract to remain at Deepdale last month, he is looking forward to the big move-in – especially as it will afford him the opportunity to do some extra training.

He lives in close proximity to Euxton and will be able jog in to work every morning.

“The new training ground is really exciting,” said Maguire.

“I live that side of Preston and so I could probably jog down every day to training.

“So it’s really good for me, but I think everybody is excited about moving there.

“It will be a nice change, it’s a Premier League-standard training ground.

“I think everybody is excited about what’s to come.

“The club I think will be moving in next month and we’ll be looking forward to that.”

While that’s for the short-term future, North End’s immediate concern is the start of the new Championship season this weekend.

Alex Neil’s men have been busy putting together the finishing touches to their preparations for the visit of Swansea City to Deepdale at their existing Springfields headquarters.

As per the end of the 2019-20 season, the start of the new campaign will go ahead behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Swans, of course, reached the play-offs after Project Restart, pipping Nottingham Forest to sixth place on the final day of the season.

They then proceeded to lose out at the semi-final stage to Brentford, who then went on to lose at Wembley to Fulham.

North End, of course, were the team who occupied sixth spot before the season was brought to a shuddering halt in March.

Unfortunately, they were unable to hold on to that final play-off spot over the final nine games, eventually finishing four points behind Swansea.

Swans boss Steve Cooper has been active in the transfer market over the short summer break, swooping for a number of players, including Jamal Lowe from Wigan who was thought to be interesting PNE also.

Maguire knows that a win over Swansea will reinforce the view that North End can be genuine play-off challengers once again.

“It will be two teams who will be looking to push on again this season I suppose ,” said Maguire.

“They maybe still on a bit of downer after losing in the play-offs to Brentford.

“They were a little unlucky, I remember watching the game. They have brought in a few good players so they have topped-up from where they were last season.

“It will be a good game. Two teams who really like to play a good, attacking, flowing-style of football.

“I really like playing against Swansea, but every game in the Championship is competitive, especially that first game of the season – you just want to get that points tally moving straight away.

“Being at home as well, hopefully we can get the win.”

Maguire admits the last few months have been a strange time for footballer due to Covid-19.

Even pre-season has not been straightforward with a competitive Carabao Cup clash against Mansfield sandwiched in between a number of friendlies and a call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad.

“At times pre-season has been quite different,” said Maguire.

“But everybody is in the same boat.”