After reaching the play-offs last term it's been a slow start to the campaign for Preston but the Lillywhites can take heart from last weekend's goalless draw at Leeds. That result leaves Preston in amongst a host of teams in the middle of the table and, although Sheffield United and Reading are running away with things at the top, Billy Davies' side are still only three points adrift of the top six. Givemefootball's Mark Shail caught up with long-serving midfielder Paul McKenna, who has just committed himself to a new four-year deal at Deepdale after signing up with the PFA's Management Agency.Things haven't gone exactly to plan as yet but we’ve been a bit better in recent weeks. We sold a couple of key players at the start of the season and I think that affected us for a while but slowly things are starting to come together.
Q:WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF PRESTON'S START TO THE SEASON?
A:Things haven't gone exactly to plan as yet but we’ve been a bit better in recent weeks. We sold a couple of key players at the start of the season and I think that affected us for a while but slowly things are starting to come together.
Q:YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH SATURDAY'S POINT AT LEEDS?
A:We were pleased because Elland Road is never an easy place to go and in the end we probably shaded it and on another day we could have taken all three points if we'd taken our chances.
Q:TALK US THROUGH THE 25-YARD BLOCKBUSTER YOU SCORED AGAINST HULL A FEW WEEKS AGO?
A:It was certainly one of my better ones. In fact I didn't realise I was that far out until I saw it on the TV. So many times you have a shot from far out and it goes over the top of the stand but I suppose if you don't take the chance you are never going to score – perhaps it was just my day.
Q:DESPITE PRESTON'S MID-TABLE POSITION YOU'RE NOT FAR OFF THE PLAY-OFF ARE YOU?
A:No, Sheffield United and Reading are going well but, those two teams aside, it's all pretty congested. We've been fairly inconsistent so far but if we can start stringing two or three wins together we could quite easily climb into the top six.
Q:ARE THE PLAY-OFFS STILL THE TARGET?
A:After reaching the play-offs last season anything less that that, as far as the fans and the players are concerned will be a disappointment. Since I have been at Preston they have enjoyed the most success they've had for the previous 30 years so they have come to expect us to be up there challenging for promotion.
Q:YOU'VE RECENTLY SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT, WAS THAT AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE?
A:Yes, I've been here for the whole of my career and the fact that the club wanted me to commit myself to a long-term deal shows the faith they have in me. The new deal takes me to 32 and hopefully I'll continue to perform well and we will enjoy more success at the club over the next few years.
Q:AND YOU'VE JUST SIGNED UP WITH THE PFA'S AGENCY?
A:Yes, I met up with Mick McGuire and I was very impressed with their professionalism and what they had to say. They have a great team behind them and if anyone has their finger on the pulse it's the PFA, so not only was I pleased to sign up, I was delighted with the PFA's representation in negotiating a new contract for me.
