Preston North End enjoyed a great first season back in the Sky Bet Championship last season finishing 11th position and they have only strengthened since the end of the last campaign.

Manager, Simon Grayson, has wasted no time ahead of North End's second campaign back in the second tier of English football as he has already recruited seven players.

The side has been improved all over the field with almost all the positions being strengthened. North End go into the new season with added quality, more experience and hopefully the side will gel perfectly during pre-season.

Many players will play a huge part for Preston North End in the upcoming season but the players featuring down the middle of the field will no doubt be crucial to the White's performance next term.

FLW writer Tom Rawcliffe identifies the THREE players who he believes will make up the core of the North End squad during the upcoming season...

Bailey Wright

One area on the field where a solid player is vital is certainly the centre-back position and in that area, the Lilywhites have a few great players.

As well as captain Tom Clarke and Paul Huntington, another great centre-back in the Preston ranks is Bailey Wright.

The 23-year-old has worked his way up the North End ladder since joining the club in 2009 and has now consolidated his place in the first-team.

During his 184 appearances for Preston, he has massively impressed and he earned himself his first call up to the Australian national side in 2014. He now also plays regularly for them too and currently has 12 caps for his country.

Going into the new season, Wright is probably one of the first names on the team sheet and everybody connected with North End will be hoping to see more brilliant performances from the Aussie throughout the campaign.

Paul Gallagher

North End are also strong in the centre of the field with numerous central midfielders signed on at the club. One of whom is Paul Gallagher.

The former Leicester City man has played for Preston in 4 different spells now and he has always played a key part in the squad's success.

The 31-year-old has played in many different positions for the Whites including left midfield and up front but in the season just passed, he occupied a position in the centre of midfield and he adapted to that role superbly.

Gallagher often orchestrates the play in the middle of the park, playing diagonal ball left and right. He can also produce magic from set pieces.

Anders Lindegaard

One of the most important positions out of the XI is undoubtedly the goalkeeper.

North End have recruited two 'keepers during the summer transfer window, Chris Maxwell from Fleetwood and Anders Lindegaard of West Brom.

Lindegaard spent half of last season on loan at Deepdale and his impressive performances during the spell earned him a permanent deal the Whites.

The former Manchester United 'keeper will surely have the best brought out of him as Maxwell and young goalkeeper Matthew Hudson will be battling him to be the number 1 man between the sticks.