Huddersfield Town digest: Radulovic and Healey injury updates, transfers and predicted line-up
All the latest ahead of Saturday's game at home to Shrewsbury
What’s been said
“It’s the last week of the window and there’s lots of plates spinning. There probably will be ins and outs before the end of the window, but if there isn’t, we’re quite comfortable.
“You’re always trying to improve what you think you’ve got. There’s domino effect all the time and we’re not always in control of that domino effect, whether it’s a Premier League club, a Championship club, or a club coming in for one of our players.
“It’s a moveable market, but it is starting to move because there is such a short space of time left“
— Michael Duff, on the state of play in the transfer window at Huddersfield Town at his Thursday afternoon press conference
“There’s been no bids. There’s been some interest in maybe some of the fringe players but no bids for any the starters. I think we’ve made it quite clear that nobody’s for sale. That’s the beauty of the strength of the position we are in, there’s no fire sale obviously.“
— Michael Duff, on whether there have been bids for any of Town’s current squad
Coming up next
Shrewsbury Town finished four points clear of the relegation zone last season and have had a difficult start to the current campaign.
Paul Hurst’s side are yet to win a game outright, losing 1-0 away to Stevenage and 1-4 at home to Peterborough in the league and losing 2-1 to Fulham U21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening.
Shrewsbury have, however, put themselves through to the next round of the Carabao Cup after coming back from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Notts County and then winning on penalties.
The Shrews have so far tended to go with a four at the back and a lone striker, with experienced big man John Marquis leading the line after arriving as a free agent in the summer.
Huddersfield Town injuries and absences
Rhys Healey missed last weekend’s victory over Stevenage with a knock but returned to full training on Thursday and is available for selection to face Shrewsbury this weekend.
Bojan Radulovic remains out with a groin injury and is not expected back for at least another ten days. He is currently working with the physios.
Radinio Balker is forecast to be out until the new year with a fractured ankle suffered in pre-season.
Michael Duff says there are no new injury issues to speak of this week.
Predicted line-up to face Shrewsbury
It’s always tough to predict changes to a winning side, and the big decisions are already becoming familiar with midfield and centre-forward posing particular problems.
A lot of it this weekend, we think, comes down to how much Rhys Healey is able to do. If he starts, we think there’s more of a chance of Callum Marshall coming in as his partner…though that’s no guarantee after Josh Koroma scored at the weekend. If not, we imagine it’ll be Koroma and Danny Ward again.
This may be a game to bring in Herbie Kane for either Jonathan Hogg or Antony Evans, but in the end we’re going to stick with an unchanged line-up.
3-5-2: Lee Nicholls; Tom Lees, Michal Helik, Brodie Spencer; Lasse Sorensen, Antony Evans, Jonathan Hogg, Ben Wiles, Mickel Miller; Danny Ward, Josh Koroma.
Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Matty Pearson, Jaheim Headley, Herbie Kane, David Kasumu, Rhys Healey, Callum Marshall.
Huddersfield Town Women
Town Women got off to a winning start with a two-goal victory away to Leeds United on Sunday, and now tackle their first home game of the season as they take on Stockport County at the Stafflex Arena at Storthes Hall.
Kick-off is set for 2pm, and with the season just getting under way and a bank holiday weekend it’s a great time to give it a go if you haven’t before. Admission is £6 adults, £4 concessions and free for 16 and unders.
Our schedule
I’ll have something or other for paid backers in your inbox by no later than Friday…current thinking is a closer look at some of the things Town are doing differently and well so far this season.
Player ratings will be with you for the men’s game on Saturday and the women’s game on Sunday — as ever, those are free to all readers.
For paying backers, five conclusions will be out on Sunday, followed by the podcast first thing Monday morning. We’ll have a full report on Town Women, too, so keep an eye out for that.
Moving into next week, I’ll be at the Walsall game for more scores on the doors on the final whistle followed by reaction for our backers on Wednesday morning.
The digest will probably continue to mostly come out on Thursday afternoons this season, as that allows me to give you the most up-to-date injury news from the pre-match press conference.
Donate to Wander 2 Wanderers
While I’ve got you, 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!