30-01-2026, 17:23
Paul Heckingbottom is expecting a match of high quality this weekend as North End travel to Ipswich Town.
The Lilywhites round off January with a trip down to Portman Road, looking to claim their third successive league victory over the Tractor Boys.
With Kieran McKenna’s side currently sat third in the Championship and five points shy of the automatic promotion places, PNE’s manager is predicting a tough clash and believes that his team must approach the contest with no fear to get a positive result.
“A real top level Championship game,” stated Hecky. “Team in good form, really good players, good manager, who are now where they should be, right at the top. So, they'll have ambitions to finish in the top two, maybe chase Coventry down, we know that.
“I think I said at the start of the season they were my favourites, and nothing that I've seen about them makes me change my mind, so it's going to be a good game. I think you have to respect the quality of the opposition where you're going.
“Go with no fear, and go there knowing that, like we have shown many times, that we're more than capable of getting the result that we want down there.
“But also acknowledging how hard that is, what we have to be willing to give, what we have to be willing to sacrifice, and make sure we get everything right.”
North End recently announced their first signing of the January transfer window, Miloš Luković, who has joined the Lilywhites on loan until the end of the 2025/26 campaign from Strasbourg.
Hecky is extremely pleased to welcome the 20-year-old to his squad and hopes that his forward play can provide PNE with a boost in attack.
“We welcome Miloš, he's a No.9 who plays on the last man, will make good runs in behind, come and link play and then look to get behind again,” said the boss.
"He's someone we've seen a lot of, he was really keen to come and embrace that challenge of the Championship and face something different.
"We're really keen and determined to make the most of the four months he is here."
The Lilywhites round off January with a trip down to Portman Road, looking to claim their third successive league victory over the Tractor Boys.
With Kieran McKenna’s side currently sat third in the Championship and five points shy of the automatic promotion places, PNE’s manager is predicting a tough clash and believes that his team must approach the contest with no fear to get a positive result.
“A real top level Championship game,” stated Hecky. “Team in good form, really good players, good manager, who are now where they should be, right at the top. So, they'll have ambitions to finish in the top two, maybe chase Coventry down, we know that.
“I think I said at the start of the season they were my favourites, and nothing that I've seen about them makes me change my mind, so it's going to be a good game. I think you have to respect the quality of the opposition where you're going.
“Go with no fear, and go there knowing that, like we have shown many times, that we're more than capable of getting the result that we want down there.
“But also acknowledging how hard that is, what we have to be willing to give, what we have to be willing to sacrifice, and make sure we get everything right.”
North End recently announced their first signing of the January transfer window, Miloš Luković, who has joined the Lilywhites on loan until the end of the 2025/26 campaign from Strasbourg.
Hecky is extremely pleased to welcome the 20-year-old to his squad and hopes that his forward play can provide PNE with a boost in attack.
“We welcome Miloš, he's a No.9 who plays on the last man, will make good runs in behind, come and link play and then look to get behind again,” said the boss.
"He's someone we've seen a lot of, he was really keen to come and embrace that challenge of the Championship and face something different.
"We're really keen and determined to make the most of the four months he is here."
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