Neil Shipperley is back in the big time after gaining promotion with Crystal Palace. The-30-year old striker returns after a four-year absence and he gives an exclusive interview with givemefootball's Lawrie Madden about the forthcoming season - and how the Eagles plan to buck the Premiership trend of newly-promoted teams going back down.
Q:HOW HAS PRE-SEASON GONE SO FAR?
A:Well it was going well to start with, but I have just come back from our pre-season tour of Ireland early because I have picked up a knee injury and it looks like it will be touch and go whether I am fit for the start of the season, so that is a bit of a worry.
Q:WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE SINCE YOU WON PROMOTION?
A:We have done a little pre-season training but have gone away so we have not had a big media build-up. It really hit me and sunk home when the fixture list came out and we were there. When you are in Division One you read about the Premiership and you are in a bit of awe so now we are in there it is starting to hit home.
Q:IS IT INEVITABLE YOU WILL BE AMONG THE BOOKIES' FAVOURITES TO GO STRAIGHT BACK DOWN?
A:You expect that and history speaks for itself about how many clubs have found it hard to stay there after the first season. Having said that we can't go into the Premiership thinking negative thoughts all the time but rather think what we can achieve.
Q:DO YOU EXPECT THE PREMIERSHIP TO BE DIFFERENT, TOUGHER, THIS TIME?
A:The last time we did not win a home game until April and you cannot afford to do that if you want to stay up. We need to get points on the board early on and also have a good run because I think our home form will be a key area as to how we will do.
Q:WILL THERE BE A BIG ONUS ON THE STRIKERS?
A:Having looked at struggling clubs that go and down it seems that if both strikers get into double figures then the club has a good chance. If both the strikers can get ten goals or even 15 each in a so-called struggling side then there is a good a chance of staying up.
Q:THE FIRST YEAR IS KEY, ISN'T IT? SURVIVE AND YOU CAN GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH - LIKE BOLTON, BIRMINGHAM AND CHARLTON?
A:I think so. I think the first year is very important. If you can stay up you can go on from there. I take inspiration from teams like Birmingham and Charlton. It has been one hell of an achievement but it shows what can be done.
Q:WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN STAY UP?
A:I think we have a good squad, a good team spirit in which the manager gets the best out of his players. Having said that I think the key will be who we get in and buy. If we buy well then we will do well. The last time our buys didn't work and we didn't win a home game until April.
Q:ARE YOU WORRIED THE MANAGER WILL BRING SOMEONE IN AS COMPETITIONTO YOU - ESPECIALLY GIVEN YOUR INJURY SITUATION?
A:That is always possible but I would like to think that he will give the players who got him here a chance to show what they can do first. He is a fair man and he will go on form, which is to be expected. If you are doing it you will play, if not you're out.
