Winger Billy Bodin may still have big part to play in Preston North End’s play-off push

The possibility of the season stretching into summer will provide Preston North End winger Billy Bodin with the hope of being involved.
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Surgery on his Achilles tendon looked to curtailed his 2019/20 campaign.

However, if football gets itself up and running again and the season resumes over the summer, Bodin should have recovered sufficiently to play a part.

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With the plan being to squash the remaining games into a 56-day period, it will be all hands on decks for clubs.

PNE attacker Billy BodinPNE attacker Billy Bodin
PNE attacker Billy Bodin

So being able to add Bodin into the equation would be beneficial to Lilywhites boss Alex Neil.

Of PNE’s three walking wounded at the time of the lockdown, Bodin seems the furthest on with his recovery.

Tom Bayliss has had surgery to repair damaged ankle ligaments and Louis Moult is on his way back from having the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee repaired.

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Bodin got a kick on his Achilles tendon during training in January.

He built his fitness up but was still getting pain and it was decided minor surgery would be needed to remove some debris from the area.

In an interview with North End’s official website, Bodin said: “I had my operation about a week before lockdown started and I had the time frame of four to six weeks before I could start running and doing a bit more.

“Sometimes you feel you can do a little bit more, but as long as you are keeping in contact with the staff and keep letting them know where you are at, then it is good.

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“You are just a text or a call away from the staff and, so far, it has gone pretty well.

“I am on the verge of jogging and running now and then when we are back, I will brush up on my fitness a little bit and after a week or two of that, then I can hopefully be straight back into training.”

North End have nine games of the season left to play and are sixth in the Championship.

Although their form was not good in the weeks before the game was halted, most of the sides around them were showing a lack of consistency.

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If the season does resume, it will be completed behind closed doors, with next season starting the same way.

Said Bodin: “We have to hit the ground running, it has been said a few times on our group chat.

“We have to pick up as many points as we can and maintain, or better, our position and try and get in the play-offs.

“Unless it is a reserve game, I have never played behind closed doors, but it is your job and you have to get on with it.

“The fans are a massive part, they spur you on at times, but we will have to fight and try and get the most amount of points we can.”