Huddersfield Town digest: Duff reaction to Walsall, transfers and injuries
Huddersfield Town digest: Duff reaction to Walsall, transfers and injuries
All the latest ahead of Saturday's Yorkshire derby against Rotherham
What’s been said
“We've given up poor goals — we've got to find a way of seeing the game out, 10 men or not. So that was the most disappointing part. You’ve got to credit the opposition, [but] I thought we got out-fought today, I thought we got out-run today, which is a warning sign.
“There's a decision (the red card) that sort of gets the crowd up a little bit and we sink in…but, I'm more interested about us, and we showed too many frailties.”
— Michael Duff, after Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat away to Walsall in the League Cup
“We’re looking. I sat here last week and I don’t think anyone thought we’d be bringing in a central defender or a central midfielder. We’re looking to strengthen every area of the pitch.
“Sometimes you’re at the mercy of other clubs, whether that’s someone has to come in before someone goes out or someone gets sold…there’s a cascade effect constantly and you’re not always in control of it.
“If we can improve the team and we get an opportunity to improve the team, we will. If we don’t — and I said this before the two new signings — we’re comfortable with what we’ve got. You always want better though.”
— Michael Duff, on Thursday evening, discussing Friday’s transfer deadline
“[Joe Hodge] is a really good technician. You look at his size and he’s not going to bring a of physicality, but you look at his pedigree of where he’s come from (Manchester City) and the club he’s now (Wolves), and he’s something different to what we’ve got. He breaks lines with his passing, he’s progressive with his passing, and I think he complements what we’ve got in a strong area of the pitch now.“
— Michael Duff, on new loan arrival Joe Hodge
“Nigel’s one we’ve known about for a long time. He’s athletic, comfortable in possession, and did really well [at Plymouth] a couple of years ago, so he knows the level. Sometimes first-time loans you don’t know what you’re going to get, but the fact he’s been at a club that won this division playing in a back three and he can play across a back three, it complements what we’ve got.”
— Michael Duff, on new arrival Nigel Lonwijk
Coming up next
Town’s Championship relegation buddies Rotherham United will host Saturday’s 12:30pm kick-off.
Fancied to challenge for promotion — as they always do at this level — Steve Evans’ side are still without a win or indeed a goal in League One this season, making them the only side yet to find the net.
The data suggests they have suffered from a combination of awful luck and bad finishing, however. No other League One side has taken more shots than Rotherham (52), and only four sides have a higher expected goals — one of which is Town.
Having lost numerous players as free agents, Rotherham have brought 13 new ones to the New York Stadium this summer (all free transfers and loans), including former Town loanee Joe Hungbo.
On Tuesday, Town will travel to Doncaster Rovers for a 7pm kick-off in what for us will always be the JPT, but which is now apparently the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Grant McCann’s side finished last season in sensational form to rise from the bottom end of League Two to claim a play-off spot, only to lose to Crewe on penalties in the semi-final. They have started the new fourth-tier campaign with two wins and a defeat, most recently going out of the Carabao Cup to Everton.
Huddersfield Town injuries and absences
Matty Pearson will serve a one-match ban for his red card against Walsall when Town visit Rotherham on Saturday lunchtime.
Brodie Spencer has had a scan on the shoulder injury that forced him off against Shrewsbury on Saturday, and is now expected to miss around six weeks.
In midfield, Herbie Kane remains sidelined with a groin injury for another two to three weeks, while David Kasumu ruptured ankle ligaments during the Shrewsbury game last weekend and looks set to miss four to six weeks.
Tom Lees was rested in the cup but is expected to be available for the weekend. A late decision will be made on Rhys Healey to face Rotherham after being in and out of training with little niggles over the past week or so.
Bojan Radulovic remains out with a groin injury and is expected back next month, while Radinio Balker is forecast to be out until the new year with a fractured ankle suffered in pre-season.
Any new arrivals on Friday’s transfer deadline day would need to be registered by noon to be eligible to play against Rotherham.
Predicted line-up to face Rotherham
3-5-2: Lee Nicholls; Tom Lees, Michal Helik, Nigel Lonwijk; Lasse Sorensen, Antony Evans, Joe Hodge, Ben Wiles, Mickel Miller; Danny Ward, Josh Koroma.
Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Ollie Turton, Josh Ruffels, Jonathan Hogg, Tom Iorpenda, Rhys Healey/Kian Harratt, Callum Marshall.
Huddersfield Town Women
Town Women will take on Doncaster Belles in the WNL Cup on Thursday evening (7:45pm kick-off), before hosting Norton & Stockton in the league on Sunday at 2pm.
With the season just getting under way, it’s a great time to give it a go if you haven’t before. Admission is £6 for adults, £4 for concessions and free for under 16s.
Our schedule
We’ll have a close eye on transfer deadline day, obviously, should anything happen — either in or out.
Ratings will be published on the whistle as usual for both games in the coming week. Conclusions on the Rotherham game are likely to be out on Saturday evening, with a reaction to the Doncaster game on Wednesday.
We’ll aim to have the podcast out on Sunday night or Monday morning, too.
Donate to Wander 2 Wanderers
While I’ve got you, I just want to ask if you have two minutes and a few quid to spare for a very good cause. I’ll be taking part in the second day of Wander 2 Wanderers in September, walking the final ten miles to the away game against Bolton Wanderers to raise money for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
You can make a donation here - any amount gratefully received.
Even better, if you’re interested in signing up for the walk, details on how to sign up for the walk are here. Thanks!