UPBEAT: Declan Rudd

CHAMPIONSHIP
By Jon Wilkinson
DECLAN Rudd believes he is close to the top of his game at Preston and is determined to help them gain promotion to the Premier League.
The 29-year-old made his 150th appearance for the club during last week’s 1-1 draw at local rivals Blackburn.
The Lilywhites made a strong start to the campaign but fell out of the Championship play-off places following a winless run of five league games. Rudd said: “I probably feel the best I’ve felt for a long time out on the pitch. Day-to-day work with Gouldy (goalk...