Joe Garner

Preston striker relishing clash with former club

Preston North End striker Joe Garner have been forced to miss their last two matches because of suspension, however he will be free to face Blackburn Rovers in their next game. This will be the first time he returns to Ewood Park since leaving Rovers as a youngster. Speaking to the official club website, he is looking forward to going back.

Since leaving Blackburn, the 27-year-old has played for a series of Football League clubs, most notably Carlisle United, Nottingham Forest and Watford but he has made himself a permanent fixture in Simon Grayson’s starting line-up.

Although he has played against Blackburn since originally leaving, this will resemble his first return to Ewood Park since leaving. Already this season they have defeated local rivals Burnley and Bolton Wanderers away from home, and Garner believes the hat-trick is more than achievable. They are expected to be roared on by over 7,000 fans in the away end as well, something Garner believes could be a major factor,

“I am sure the fans will try and make it a bit of a home game for us.

“To beat your local rivals is always nice for everyone connected with the Club, but the credit for the wins we’ve had so far – and the season we’ve had – has to go to the gaffer.

“It has been some season so far and to be as high as we are in the league all the credit should go to the staff and the gaffer. It has been a very good season so far and hopefully we can push on until the end of the season and see if we can get into the top six.”

After collecting ten yellow cards, Preston have been without Garner for their last two matches, however he’ll make a welcome return after the international break. Garner says this has been a frustrating period, but it just glad to get back amongst the thick of the action against his former club,
“The last couple of weeks have been long, but the suspension is over now and I am just looking to get back in and help the lads out.

“I am looking forward to Blackburn now. I have a lot of friends over that way, so I am really looking forward to the game and hoping we can pick up three points and give everyone a nice day out.

“I have played Blackburn a few times since I left, but I have never played at Ewood Park.

“I am looking forward to going back there and hopefully we can come away with the three points. I will have a lot of friends there and we will be doing everything we can to win the game.”

Preston sit tenth in the Championship. Although they have only won once in their last five games, they picked up four points in the two matches that Garner was unavailable for. Victory at Ewood Park would be their seventh away victory of the season.
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