JOE Pritchard will aim to continue producing the goods for Stanley – no matter his position on the pitch.

The Reds’ Mr Versatile popped up with the equalising goal in the pre-season friendly draw with Championship side Preston North End, playing from a central area.

Pritchard spent much of an injury-hit season playing as a wing back, but was still able to contribute seven goals and six assists across his 28 appearances.

Injury issues saw the 24-year-old manage just four appearances in the final three months of last season, but fully fit and excited for the new season, Pritchard is feeling confident.

He has been a regular over the last three seasons for Stanley, clocking up 71 appearances, and while not having had a set position during that time, Pritchard doesn’t see that as a bad thing.

He said: “Wherever the gaffer puts me and thinks I can help the team, whether that be wide or in the middle, I just hope I’m playing and selected in the starting XI every week and try my best for the team.

“I’ve never really had one position that I can nail down and say ‘I’m this position’ but it does help me that I’m versatile, can play in a number of positions but also affect the game wherever I’m playing.

“Last season I was playing left wing back a lot but still scoring and setting up goals and then against a good team I’ve shown I can score when playing centrally.”

Pritchard cancelled out an opener from a North End trialist, former Burnley man Jamie Thomas, at the Wham Stadium, with boss John Coleman disappointed his side didn’t go on to win the game in the second half.

Agreeing with his manager, Pritchard added: “100 per cent, we played well, had good spells, sticky spells at times, but we had more chances than them and second half I think we should maybe have scored a winner.

“To get a few goals in pre-season gives you confidence and will hopefully kick you on to get more in the season which will be more important.”

Fans, both home and away, were back inside the Wham Stadium for the first time since February 2020, the players arriving and leaving the field to a great reception, with the players paying their thanks at the final whistle.

It has been a long wait for the fans and players alike and Pritchard is excited by what Stanley can achieve next season with the support of the crowd.

“It was so refreshing,” he explained. “As soon as we came in, went to warm up, all the fans were so loud for the whole game and it gives you that extra edge to hear them when you’re playing.

“It’s been so long without them, hearing how loud they were, it was brilliant to see them back and hopefully it will kick us on going into the season and they can be as loud as that in every game.”