Another youngster signs up...
ANOTHER highly-rated youngster has put pen-to-paper on a new contract here at Banks’s Stadium with defender, Matt Preston, agreeing a one-year deal.The former youth team skipper, who became a professional in the summer of 2013, is hoping to put his injury problems behind him and break into the first-team having made just a brief substitute outing last term.
“Now that things are sorted, I just want to concentrate on working hard and getting a nose in the team during pre-season,” said the 20 year-old. “I’m feeling fit and strong and can’t wait for pre-season training to start, to be honest.
“The maintenance programme that we have been following has been really beneficial and it was good to be able to come back into the club earlier this week to do some work with the rest of the lads for a couple of days.
“The sessions were really bright and there was that element of competition that you don’t get when you’re working on your own as we pushed ourselves against each other.
“I certainly feel ready to hit the ground running when pre-season training starts and that’s what it is all about at this stage.”
As a centre-back, Preston feels that he has really developed under Dean Smith’s wing, but understands that he has to start staking his claims for a place in the team during the campaign ahead.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Gaffer,” he added. “Having played in my position himself during his playing career, he has been a massive help.
“He’s been there and done it and had a good career in the game, so I can only learn from that kind of knowledge and experience.
“That said, the rest of the staff are fantastic too and the analysis and work that we do really helps to develop young players like myself.
“I know that I have to look to break into the team during the season ahead and stay there. I want to remain injury-free and get as many games under my belt as I can.
“There are a lot of young lads in the first-team and it sends out a positive message to me because it proves that if you work hard and do the right things, your opportunity will come.
“The important thing will be to take that chance when it comes along.”