West Brom coach prepares for a return to Preston North End

Oct 1 2009 by Chris Lepkowski

"But I do know there is no panic. We are second in the table and we have got 20 points.

"We are on the target of two points per game that most clubs would want if they were going to think about getting promoted.

"We are disappointed with the last two games but there is probably not one thing you can put your finger on and blame.

"The key thing when you lose a couple of games is to get your heads down and make sure that out doesn’t become a three, four or five-game run."

The 33-year-old played 148 times for North End before moving to Albion in January 2001, helping them to the play-offs later that season.

Appleton suffered a severe knee injury during training in November 2001 and was forced to quit three years later.

He is looking forward to going back to a club he feels will challenge at the top of the Championship.

"I went there with West Brom in 2001 but we had already qualified for the play-offs and Gary Megson left me out," added Appleton.

"It was the last game of the normal season and he must have thought I would get booked or sent-off and be suspended for the play-offs.

"This current side have got to be seen as serious contenders for the play-offs at least.

"They know what this league is all about, have done well in it before and have made a good start again, so you have to see them as a threat."

Appleton will, at least, be able to celebrate or down his sorrows in his own 'local' on Saturday.

He owns a pub in Lancashire and reckons that he'll be subjected to stick, whatever the result.

"I'm more of a silent partner but I run it with my wife and my brother in law, who is a live-in landlord," he continued.

"I go in for a meal and a drink and talk to the customers. Most of the regulars are North End fans. There are one or two Blackpool fans but generally it’s all North End.

"They are already giving me a bit of stick."