news-engine

PNE boss happy that the Carabao Cup kicks off their season with more signings still to be made Preston North End get their 2026/27 season underway this afternoon. Paul Heckingbottom believes Huddersfield Town will pose a stern examination of his Preston North End players when the new season starts this afternoon. It’s a different opening day than normal for the PNE squad, whose campaign begins with a Carabao Cup tie rather than a Championship match. For good measure, the summer pitch work at Deepdale means the ‘home’ tie will be played on Merseyside with Goodison Park the venue. It sees North End facing a Huddersfield team coming off a close season of change as they look for a return to the Championship at the third time of asking. Martin Drury has become their sixth full-time boss in the last two-and-a-half years, having been in interim charge towards the end of last season. Eight players have also moved to the Accu Stadium over the summer, with another 22 departing either permanently or on loan. Asked what he expects from them, Heckingbottom said: “Their ambitions are high. You can see that with the turnover of managers and they will be wanting the same sort of success, being in and around those play-off positions. “We know it’s going to be tough. Having watched them pre-season, they play with a lot of energy, on the front foot and the fact that it’s a real game now, it’s a big test for us. “I think the fact it’s a competitive game will help us but it’ll show where we are. “I know we’re light, we’re not anywhere near the finished squad without a doubt; that’s why I’m glad that it’s a League Cup game. “It gives us another few days to try and get more in before the Championship starts. Subscribe now for HALF PRICE and catch every minute of our PNE coverage this season - from pre-season to the final whistle. Click here “We want to progress in the cup as well. If we manage to get past Huddersfield, we’ve got another game against potentially some top opposition. “It’s a real first-team fixture for, hopefully, when we get the players in; another game to practice in. “We saw the value of that when we were introducing Dobbo (Lewis Dobbin) last season “This time last season, Alfie (Devine) wasn’t in the door, Dobbo wasn’t in, Harrison Armstrong wasn’t in. “We made three signings after that. We want more than that between now and the window closing, but there’s no reason why we can’t get that type of quality in the door between now and then.”