YOU could be forgiven if you'd feared Andrew Lonergan was destined to become another young English footballing talent whose potential had gone unfulfilled.
At just 21, the former England U21 international endured a 15-month injury nightmare which had many wondering whether we would ever see the best of him.
But the Longridge-educated shot-stopper has bounced back from his injury woes to become a familiar face in the Preston North End first team this season and now, at still only 24 years of age, he is keen to make up for lost time.
''I just want to play every single game possible and do as well as I can. My target is to finish my career with seven or eight hundred appearances,'' said Lonergan, who is contracted with North End till 2012.
Lonergan certainly wasted no time as a youngster in impressing Preston with his goalkeeping ability, so much so that by the time he was attending high school at Longridge St Cecilia's he had already signed on for North End.
''I signed on for Preston when I was 10 or 11,'' he said. ''At the time I looked up to the likes of Peter Schmeichel and David James. I always liked Tim Flowers, I guess because in Longridge most people are either Preston or Blackburn fans.''
During his time at St Cecilia's, Lonergan was a part of the school's football team, although his appearances were soon cut short due to other commitments.
He recalls: ''I played in goal for the first couple of years... then I just played anywhere!
''After Year 9 I was involved with the England schoolboys and they weren't too keen on you playing for your school due to injuries you might get, so it was pretty limited after that,'' he said.
It could have been a different story though had Lonergan chosen to play for the Republic of Ireland instead of England due to duo-nationality which runs through his family. But Lonergan was forced to make his choice when England played Ireland at Deepdale, something Lonergan confesses to having 'a long, hard think about.'
His involvement with the England schoolboys was a testimony to Lonergan's ability where he played alongside the likes of Michael Chopra, James Milner and David Bentley.
With the prospect of Lonergan being snapped up by another club, Preston wasted no time in making sure his future would lie at Deepdale. He said: ''I had agreed in principle to sign a professional contract when I was 14, that's possibly why the schoolwork wasn't too great!''
Lonergan continued to study at St Cecilia's, while all the time enhancing his reputation at North End. But not even Lonergan could have predicted his rapid rise into the first-team squad, leading to his debut against Coventry in the League Cup in 2000, at the age of just 16.
''I played against Coventry in August and I had only left school in July, it was really good to play and a very exciting time for me.''
Following brief loan spells at Darlington and Blackpool, Lonergan would have to wait until the 2004/05 campaign under Billy Davies before making the goalkeeping spot his own, but a cruciate ligament injury sustained in training would be the beginning of a lengthy spell on the sidelines. When he had recovered, he had lost his place in the North End side to Carlo Nash and was shipped out to Wycombe on loan, only for the injury to strike again.
''It was a hard time for me. The first injury was an awkward fall in training and the second was a re-occurance of the first. The surgery hadn't been successful, but I've had another operation, so fingers crossed this time,'' he said.
On return from injury Lonergan endured another unsuccessful loan period to Swindon Town, and his North End future seemed uncertain, until he was given a recall to the line-up for Preston's FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace.
Lonergan clearly impressed, playing another 14 games in the 06/07 season before establishing himself as North End's number one in the current campaign with the highest number of appearances for the club. You would think Lonergan would be sure of his place in the side, but he knows there is no room for complacency.
He said: ''I don't think I've cemented my place in the starting-line up, one bad game and you could be out of the team. I'm approaching 100 games for Preston and I feel I've been doing well this season.''
With Preston's recent revival securing the club's Championship status, the club will no doubt have higher aims for next season. Lonergan himself believes the current side under Alan Irvine has a great deal of potential.
He said: ''I honestly think we should be aiming for promotion next season. Financially we're not one of the biggest clubs in the league but with the players we have at the club we should be top six. Since Alan Irvine has taken over we've been on a great run which shows what we're capable of.''
And as for Lonergan's personal goals? An England call-up is something he would certainly like at some point in the future, as well as playing at the top level. He said: ''Hopefully one day but not at the moment. It seems that you become a target for the media when you play for England, it's like a poison chalice. At the moment it's not in my thoughts.
''Like any player you want to play in the top league and I'd like to do that with Preston. One day I'd also like to play abroad.''
There is no doubt that Lonergan is capable of fulfilling such goals if he can stay clear of injury and continue to show the sort of fine form he has for Preston this season. And perhaps one day he can emulate the likes of his heroes David James, Tim Flowers ands David Seamen, and wear the England number one shirt.