Striker Ched Evans is focused on the future as a Preston player - and believes he's got what it takes to succeed in the Championship

The Welshman– who has joined the Lilywhites permanently until the end of the season at least – was arguably the highest profile signing by North End during the January transfer window.

A proven goalscorer in the Championship and League One – who has also featured in the Premier League for Manchester City – Evans’ career has been overshadowed by events off the pitch.

He spent approximately five years away from the game before being signed by Chesterfield for the 2016-17 season.

Since then he has had a short stint back with the Blades before joining League One outfit Fleetwood Town in 2018. Evans is looking forward to the future and writing the next chapter of his football career with North End.

“I can’t dwell on the past because that’s the only way I can go,” Evans said. “I don’t dwell on missing the five years, it’s about moving forward and enjoying every day. I don’t take anything for granted.”

Now aged 32, Evans would normally be considered as somebody who is approaching veteran status as a footballer.

But the fact that he has missed a sizeable chunk of his career makes him believe that he still has plenty left in the tank over the coming years.

“I have kind of had a unique road to where I am now,” he said. “I did not play for five years so my body has had that break, which is unprecedented in football from what I know.

“With regards to my body, I feel the best I have ever felt and I just want to keep doing what I am doing.”

Having plied his trade over the past few years in the third tier of English football, Evans felt his goal and all-round performance in his full debut for PNE against Rotherham last weekend showed that he still has the ability to succeed in the Championship.

“I enjoyed it last weekend,” he said. “I played a few games for Sheffield United when I re-signed for them in the Championship but I have made it public when I signed for them that I was injured.

“I needed surgery on my ankle so the games I played for Sheffield United were under duress really.

“It was a painful time for me. I kind of knew I wasn’t performing to the best of my ability because I needed surgery.

“My heart was arguing with my head. My heart was saying you need to get on with it, but my head was saying you need to pull yourself out

“I wasn’t doing myself justice but now I feel great. My body is the best it’s ever been and last Saturday clarified for me that I can perform at this level.”