YOUNG Preston North End striker Joe O'Neill says he is determined to put the injury which blighted last season behind him and push for a place in the club's first team.

The Blackburn-born forward was promoted to North End's senior squad last season, but was almost immediately sent on loan to Bury for the year.

Despite netting for The Shakers three times and appearing in 25 games, the 21-year-old feels he has it all to prove to Preston boss Craig Brown this term after spending much of his time at Bury on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

O'Neill, whose brother Matty is on the books at Burnley, played against Accrington Stanley in a pre-season friendly last week, his first run-out of this year's warm-up.

He said: "Bury was a good experience and I got out of it what I wanted.

"I didn't play as many games as I would have liked but I got the first team experience which I'm sure has helped me and hopefully if I get the chance this season, I will have the experience to do okay.

"I'm definitely a better players than I was 12 months ago.

"My main ambition this season is just to stay fit, stay involved and when I do get my chance hopefully I'll get goals and we will see what happens from there."

He does face tough competition to get into the side, though, and that battle got tougher last week when want-away striker Ricardo Fuller's deal at Portsmouth collapsed after the Jamaican failed a medical.

Brown has high hopes for Richard Cresswell this season, despite the fact his goals were few and far between last season.

Northern Ireland international David Healy is also hoping to maintain the excellent form which won him a place back in the the first team, while there will also be competition from fellow youngsters Simon Lynch and new signing Andy Smith.

But Brown said: "I'm pleased with the way Joe has been doing. The time at Bury has done him the power of good, despite the ankle injury.

"He's getting his chance in pre-season but he knows he will have to work for a chance when the season starts.

"We have a good crop of strikers here at Deepdale but nobody is guaranteed a place week in week out. They have to be earnt and squad players also have to take their chances when they get them.

"But I am very pleased with Joe in training so far."