Preston North End striker Neil Mellor admits he'd be reluctant to play against former club Liverpool.

Now 28, Mellor is in the best form of his career for Phil Brown's Preston.

"I want to play as high as I can." he told the Liverpool Echo. "I am 28, and I want to play back in the Premier League one day. I see some players doing it now and think 'I could do that'.

"I would love people to see me going from Liverpool, seeing me fall down the leagues a bit, looking like my career was going nowhere, and to see me fight back.

"Hopefully I can fulfil the potential I showed at Liverpool. I feel as though I'm a better player than I was, and I know that I can score goals at a higher level. Certainly the Championship and hopefully the Premier League.

"I believe that I will play at a higher level again.

"Hopefully with Preston next year."

And a return to Anfield one day?

"It is a strange one, but growing up around Liverpool means I wouldn't really want to play against them.

"I wouldn't mind playing at Anfield again for Liverpool, but not against them!"