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Callum Lang on fitness, fans and Preston North End's Championship opener at Bolton

· Ross Chapman · 2026-08-14T13:10:39+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Callum Lang on fitness, fans and Preston North End's Championship opener at Bolton North End start their league season this Saturday. Callum Lang is ready for his first full season at Preston North End. The forward joined PNE from Portsmouth on the last day of this year’s winter transfer window. After making a solid start, he suffered an injury in March and didn’t feature for the remainder of the season. With the first game of the Championship campaign now less than 24 hours away, Lang is feeling in good shape. He told BBC Radio Lancashire: “I was pushing to get back for a few games at the end of the season, but it probably didn't make sense with the long term, so it was nice to have the off-season, get a good bit of work in. “I've mostly been in and around the club, been away, and done a bit of stuff in Ireland as well, I've done a lot of work, so coming into the pre-season, [I’m] feeling really strong. “There's obviously conversations with the team here about how I can manage the moments of the season, but I don't want to be scared of past injuries. The way I play is high energy, and I never want to change that. So yeah, just working as hard as possible. It's been frustrating, but I've learned a lot about myself mentally and physically, so just ready to go now.” When asked what he had learned, Lang said: “The frustration about being out, and probably appreciating being fit. I'm feeling really strong at the minute, and I just want to take that into the season. I think I've shown in training and in the games that I'm in a good place physically. So yeah, I just want to carry that on and try and not dwell on the past injuries too much, because it was a tough time. “Obviously [I had] a really good stint at Portsmouth, and I know what I can bring to a team in this league. I want to help us push forward, and I'm really looking forward to the season. I think I've got a lot to give, and I'm desperate to make it work as soon as possible. Obviously, a bit of a slow start with the setback, but I'm really excited to make it work here and give as much as I can back.” Lang and PNE’s competitive season got underway with a win on penalties over Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup, following a 1-1 draw in normal time. Lang was voted Player of the Match. Pre-season was important for Lang this summer, and he told Lancashire Post that the past few weeks have really helped. “It's been a good pre-season. Obviously, like I say, results-wise we wanted to win more games, but it's hard to judge pre-season. I think, going into the first competitive game in the cup the other day, you can see a lot more of us, and we want to build on that. “I think it was a game where there wasn't a lot of quality on the ball, probably from our point of view. We had to defend very strong and break, so I think it was more just about bringing that energy and putting myself about, which I'll do every week.” Lang is looking forward to going up against his former club Wigan Athletic’s arch rivals Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. He told BBC Radio Lancashire: “It's a nice game to start off, definitely. It's going to be a good atmosphere, obviously they are newly promoted, there will be a good energy in the stadium. “We've just got to make sure we really bring our best selves, because I think when we're at it, we're a really tough team to play against. I think it's going to be a good day. What I'm really looking forward to is a packed away end, and hopefully we can celebrate in front of it. “We're going to need [the fans] all season. I think having that positive environment, and when you're getting results, it's easy, isn't it? But there will be times where we probably don't pick up the result we want, or we have a spell of two or three games where it's really tough. “You do need the fans, that support on a matchday home and away, just to pull you through. There will be tough times, we know that as a group, and everyone around the club knows that. It's about just all being together, and I'm really pushing on now.”