Preston North End defender gets set to kick off the new campaign

Lewis Gibson is focusing on a winning start to the season when PNE get their 2026/27 campaign underway on Saturday.

North End’s programme begins with round one of the Carabao Cup, which sees them meeting Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park.

Paul Heckingbottom’s players go into that match on the back of four consecutive pre-season defeats against League One clubs in Sheffield Wednesday, Cambridge United, Bradford City and Stockport County.

Another third-tier team awaits in Huddersfield, who completed their pre-season programme with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

Speaking after the Stockport game, Gibson told PNE’s website: “We’ve had this game to focus on and Bradford on Wednesday, so we’ll have to prepare for that one next week.

“It’s a different occasion with a different stadium but we’re going to go into the game wanting to win it.

“Obviously we haven’t done enough of that (during the pre-season), but it’s been minutes in the legs, getting ready for the first game.”

This season will be Gibson’s second full campaign at Deepdale after joining them Plymouth in January 2025.

While results haven’t been promising over the summer, the 26-year-old reiterated the friendlies are just as much about building up fitness in preparation for the nine months to come.

“You’re looking to get match fit, you’re looking to get minutes,” said Gibson, who will be looking to add to his 52 appearances for North End on Saturday.

“I think that’s the plan in pre-season, to make sure you’re all fit and raring to go.

“You want to win games, you should be winning games, but we’re getting the minutes in the legs.

“I feel good, I feel a lot better. I’ve had a good pre-season. I feel fit. I feel strong.

“Like I said, come the first game of the season, I’ll be raring to go.”