Huddersfield Town take on Preston tonight and will be hoping to extend their incredible unbeaten run to 13 games. PNE are always a tough opponent though and it won’t be as simple as turning up and collecting three points.
While Town won’t have it all their own way this evening, we’re also a team that other clubs won’t relish playing these days. We’ve got dangerous attackers, a massively improved defence and a goalkeeper that has turned dawdling over a dead ball into an art form.
Here’s how I think we’ll line up.
Goalkeeper: Lee Nicholls
Jamal Blackman was absolutely fine on his debut against Barnsley but he’ll step aside tonight anyway and Nicholls will return. Having two established professionals in the goalkeeping department makes me feel much happier as we now have cover if Nicholls gets injured.
Defence: Turton, Pearson, Lees, Toffolo
Pipa and Colwill are out injured so I expect a flat back four again with Turton playing as a right back. He could also be the right side of three centre backs if we play that system. His flexibility and his dependability make him an attractive option to Carlos.
One of Pearson or Lees may have to make way in the starting eleven when Colwill returns to fitness if we carry on with a back four. It’s hard to say which is the better option, Lees is a bit classier and positions himself very well, while Pearson is a proper old school centre back that isn’t afraid of a crunching tackle. For now we will most likely see them both play together with Lees on the left side of central defence. Previously Carlos has stated he wants left footed players in that role but Sarr’s continued erratic performances mean the right footed Lees is likely to get the nod.
Harry Toffolo’s place in the starting eleven is a bit less secure after Ruffels’ decent outing in the cup at the weekend. Toffolo is still the first choice but he will no doubt be aware that there is competition breathing down his neck. Hopefully this added pressure will draw out improved performances from him.
Midfield: Thomas, Hogg, O’Brien, Holmes
Sorba Thomas is in a funny vein of form at the moment, rather than having good games or bad games it’s like he’s having both at the same time. In one moment he’ll miscontrol a simple ball and it’ll skid out for a throw and the next he’ll ping a superb fizzing cross into the box. He’s never boring though and now he’s playing as a winger rather than a wingback we get to see him a bit higher up the field more often.
Like with Toffolo, Hogg will be aware that questions will be asked about his selection if he doesn’t perform. Jon Russell was excellent against Barnsley but Hogg has been excellent for Town for over eight years now. He’s still not quite fully at his best after returning from injury but he’ll relish a physical battle against Preston tonight.
One player that almost never has a bad game is Lewis O’Brien and there is no one in the squad that can do the things he does. I can’t give a rational reason for it but I feel almost certain that he’s going to score tonight. He’s gone close to scoring on a few occasions in recent weeks and it feels like he’s due one.
I don’t know if it’s due to recently becoming a father but Duane Holmes’ recent form has been very good. Perhaps having an extra mouth to feed has focussed him even more on his career or his desire to celebrate scoring by sucking his thumb. Whatever the reason, I hope he continues his improved performances and can find another goal tonight after scoring in his last two outings.
Forwards: Wards and Sinani
Danny Ward looks razor sharp at the moment and when you add his current potency to the graft he’s been putting in all season it makes him a tricky customer for any Championship defence. Another player that won’t be dropped from the starting eleven any time soon.
I’m less confident about Sinani starting tonight though he tends to be selected even when he’s not playing that well. Josh Koroma or Jordan Rhodes could both be preferred to our Norwich loanee but neither are as skilled at linking up play between midfield and attack. It doesn’t always come off for Sinani but he does a specific role of bringing other players into the game. Sorba Thomas in particular benefits from the passing and movement of Sinani and that may be a large factor in why Sinani has played so many games when his form hasn’t always warranted it.
Sounds about right. Turton is the weakest link for me and when Colwill is fit, he would be the one to drop. Where we are going to put Faustino Adebola Rasheed Anjorin when he’s fit is anyones’ guess!