Huddersfield Town digest: Duff on Nagle, injury latest for Exeter test
Plus our predicted line-up for the weekend and a welcome return to the grass for one long-term absentee
What’s been said
— Michael Duff, on Thursday, on his relationship with Kevin Nagle:
“I spoke to Kevin for about two or three hours last Friday. I speak to Kevin once a week anyway, so I just did it in person in in Mark's office before the Bristol Rovers game.
“It was good. Kevin's straight as a die, always honest, tells you what he's feeling, good and bad. Obviously there's been — good and bad — but I'd rather have that, I'd rather someone tell you the truth, same as when I'm talking to a player, just tell it like it is. Don't try and do shades of the truth and different agendas and narratives and things like that. I think I'm fairly similar in terms of ‘call a spade a spade’
“We started really well and we went on a bad run and we look like we've recovered a little bit and I've been trying to grow from it. So one thing is he's fully invested, there's no doubt about that.
“I know he does the social media thing, which is great. It's not my bag, but he lives in a different part of the world, so he's had an interaction with the supporters and imagine he opens himself up for a little bit of stick, but that's what social media is.
“But no, he's been good as gold, he's been supportive, ultimately he's a good guy.”
Coming up next
Exeter City will visit the John Smith’s Stadium in Saturday’s 3pm kick-off in a fifth vs sixth clash.
Gary Caldwell’s side have the joint-best defensive record in League One this season, conceding just eight goals in their 11 games so far.
Having played a game more, Town are currently ahead of Exeter on goals scored following the Grecians’ midweek 2-1 defeat at home to Reading.
Experienced Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis has been the creator in chief for Exeter this season, with the summer signing racking up three assists and grabbing his first goal for the club against Shrewsbury at the weekend.
Versatile attacking midfielder Kamari Doyle meanwhile leads Exeter's goalscoring tally with three goals from ten league appearances, and could be a threat from outside the box.
Huddersfield Town injuries and absences
Lasse Sorensen is expected to miss six to eight weeks with the hamstring injury that forced him off early on against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
Ollie Turton is fine after going off in the second half against Wrexham — just cramp.
Going off the original forecasts for each player now: Joe Hodge in out until November-December with a groin injury. Josh Koroma is expected to be out until around mid-November with a back injury.
Lee Nicholls is ruled out until mid-late December with an elbow ligament injury, and Michal Helik will be absent until the back end of November with a hamstring injury.
Radinio Balker is still a couple of months away from making a return from his fractured ankle, but is going well with his recovery so far and is back in light individual training on the grass.
Predicted line-up to face Exeter City
3-4-1-2: Jacob Chapman; Matty Pearson, Tom Lees, Nigel Lonwijk; Ollie Turton, Herbie Kane, David Kasumu, Mickel Miller; Ben Wiles; Bojan Radulovic, Danny Ward.
Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Jaheim Headley, Brodie Spencer, Jonathan Hogg, Antony Evans, Rhys Healey, Callum Marshall.
Huddersfield Town Women
Town Women will host York City in the league on Sunday afternoon, with kick off set for 2pm at the Stafflex Arena at Storthes Hall.
Town have already been away to York this season, claiming a 3-1 win in the preliminary round of the WNL Cup.
Town coaching staff doing hard miles for Prostate United
The Town coaching staff, including head coach Michael Duff, are running, cycling and swimming every day to raise money for Prostate United.
The campaign, part-founded by Town head of performance Ross Burbeary, hopes to reach £1m in fundraising for Prostate Cancer this October, with the club staff joining others around the country in running 10km or cycling 15km every day throughout the month of October.
Town’s fundraising page is here — just pick a coach to donate to, with all money going to Prostate Cancer UK.
To check your own risk of prostate cancer takes just 30 seconds — click here to do that now.
Our schedule
All being well we’ll have this week’s podcast out and available on Friday afternoon/evening, with next week’s pod moving back to the usual release first thing on Monday morning. Of course, that’s only available to our paying backers, so make sure you’re signed up.
I’ll have player ratings from the Exeter City for all readers on the final whistle on Saturday, followed by five conclusions on Sunday. The Women’s coverage will echo that
And we’ll have a written piece of some description for you ahead off