Huddersfield Town digest: Team news, predicted line-up and Bradford City preview
It's a big local derby for the Terriers this Saturday lunchtime
What’s been said
You can read our rough transcript or listen along to Lee Grant’s press conference — as well as Leo Castledine’s thoughts on the game ahead — right here on We Are Terriers.
Coming up next
For their lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, Huddersfield Town head to Bradford City for the first time since October 2006. Mark Hudson’s goal gave ten-man Town a 1-0 victory that day over a Bantams side that contained current Town staff Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and David Wetherall.
The two sides have played each other four times since then (the return fixture later that season, twice in the League Cup, once in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy), but the Terriers were at home for all of those meetings, the last of which came in August 2013.
That makes this a hugely-awaited local derby, which will only be amped up further by both sides having made a good start to the new League One season. Bradford have also claimed a couple of Championship scalps in the League Cup, knocking out Blackburn and Stoke with wins away from home.
Bradford fell to their first defeat of the campaign at the weekend, losing 3-1 against fellow newly-promoted outfit Doncaster. They currently sit just a point behind Town in fifth.
Graham Alexander has his side set up in a combative and counter-attacking 3-4-2-1 that prizes individual duels and aerial dominance. His side created plenty of shots on goal and have been clinical about putting them away.
Will Swann has been in particularly excellent form in front of goal and has forced his way off the bench with six goals in eight appearances in all competitions.
Bradford have however kept just one clean sheet in the league this season, in a goalless draw away to Northampton early last month.
The away end is already sold out, but the game will be shown on the big screens at H Town at Accu Stadium. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. (Tickets for all Town’s home games up to Christmas are now on sale as well.)
We’ll have five conclusions on the Bradford game as usual first thing on Sunday morning, followed by further reaction on the podcast on Monday. Sign up now if you haven’t already!
Huddersfield Town injuries and absences
Owen Goodman still has another two matches to serve on his suspension from his red card against Barnsley.
Jack Whatmough went off at half time after feeling his calf against Peterborough, and after a scan has been ruled out for the next 3-4 weeks at least.
Lynden Gooch has not featured since appearing against Barnsley and has been ruled out to face Bradford this weekend. It is possible but not certain that he may return against Burton the following weekend.
Jacob Chapman remains out with an ankle injury and Marcus McGuane is sidelined with a groin issue. No return dates have been publicly set for either player.
Town are expected to be without Mickel Miller (hamstring) and Antony Evans (knee) until late September-October, last we heard.
Dion Charles and Francis Hurl are both back from their respective duties with Northern Ireland and their U21s.
Radinio Balker is on his way back from international duty with Suriname. It was a particularly notable week for the centre-back, who made his international debut against Panama last Thursday before scoring Suriname’s opening goal in a 2-1 win over El Salvador on Tuesday night.
Predicted line-up to face Bradford City
4-2-3-1/3-4-1-2: Lee Nicholls; Lasse Sorensen, Josh Feeney, Joe Low, Sean Roughan; Ryan Ledson, Herbie Kane; Marcus Harness, Leo Castledine, Will Alves; Joe Taylor.
Substitutes: Francis Hurl, Murray Wallace, Ruben Roosken, David Kasumu, Ben Wiles, Zepiqueno Redmond, Alfie May.
Huddersfield Town Women
After their WNL Cup group stage defeat to higher-tier Burnley, Town Women return to league action away to Durham Cestria for Sunday’s 2pm kick-off.
Durham have had a sticky start to the new campaign, losing to York on the opening day and suffering a 4-1 defeat away to Chorley last time out in the league. They have however claimed victories over Blackburn in the league and Chester-le-Street Town in the cup.
Donate to Walk4Pounds
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 shorter 10-mile route for Walk for Denis in September, which culminates at Accu Stadium ahead of the League One clash with Burton Albion.
Organised by Huddersfield Town, the walk is raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and the Huddersfield Town Foundation in memory of the late, great Denis Law.
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!
Town winger Mickel Miller visited the Welcome Centre for National Food Bank Day last Friday to hand over non-perishable food items donated by fans on matchdays and by Town staff.
Miller said: “For me personally, I come from a council estate, so I know what it’s like to not have certain things. Being in the position now where I can help and I can shed some light so show support, I try and do something where I can give back.
“It’s been really humbling coming here today because you’re seeing people give their time up and people constantly giving, as well as learning about the people who don’t have, so you just know that you’re in a good place compared to some others.
“We’re a club that doesn’t just think about the training ground and the stadium, a lot goes on around it externally. This is why Huddersfield has become a place that I love dearly because there is so much that goes on.
“I hope everybody knows that and looks into it because there is so much that goes on behind the scenes. We’re all one and we’re all together.”
Find out more about The Welcome Centre and how you can help.