Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Sheffield Wednesday

Huddersfield Town return to competitive action this afternoon when they take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. The South Yorkshire side are now a league below Town, following last season’s relegation but the bookies make them marginal favourites for the game, presumably because they have home advantage and Town’s record in cups in recent years is horrendous.

It’s pretty common for clubs to be ambivalent towards the league cup these days but Huddersfield Town seem to take that a step further into open hostility. While most fans would be delighted by the welcome distraction on a cup run, it always feels like the club are desperate to get eliminated at the first opportunity. 

The fact that this match is taking place today instead of in its usual midweek slot shows that Town may consider it closer to another friendly rather than an actual competitive game. So even though I’m expecting our best eleven to start the game, I wouldn’t be surprised if our best players are subbed off early to protect them for next week’s game against Derby.

Goalkeeper: Lee Nicholls

The battle to be first choice keeper at Town could be one of the recurring talking points for this season. Ryan Schofield’s stock is currently down because of his tendency to flap at crosses and occasional errors. On that basis I think that Nicholls will start today but it only takes a couple of errors for the momentum to swing in the other direction and the door could then be open for Schofield. I’m not completely sure in this prediction however, as if Schofield has dropped down the pecking order it could be that he becomes the keeper that plays in the cups and Nicholls plays in the league. We’ll have to see at 12 o’clock when the team news comes out.

Defence: Turton, Pearson, Colwill, Toffolo

Pipa is already ruled out for this game as it seems that he is still struggling to shake off a niggling injury that is causing him to play in pain. This is less of a crisis than it was last season as Turton looks like a far more able deputy than Duhaney and provides competition in this area of the pitch.

Pearson seemed locked in for the right-sided central defensive role with Edmonds-Green providing backup but recent reports of Tom Lees being on the verge of signing will add competition to this role if the rumours are true. Pearson will surely get the nod today though and from what I’ve seen of him in preason, he seems like the kind of vocal, commanding presence we’ve been missing at the back for a long time. 

Naby Sarr had a stinker against Fleetwood in our last friendly and Levi Colwill has consistently looked like a class act all the way through preseason, so it seems likely that the Chelsea loanee will partner Pearson at the back. He looks to have a great eye for a pass and the ability on the ball to drive up field and start off attacking moves. He’s still very young and has very little experience but he’s highly rated and it’s worth giving him a go.

Harry Toffolo will continue as our first-choice leftback but like with Turton on the other side, Ruffels has come in to provide better cover in that area. 

Midfield: Hogg, High, O’Brien 

This midfield trio have been the consistent first-choice combination in the middle of the park for Carlos during preseason, so I expect him to continue with this lineup today. I’ve already commented on how these three players will provide plenty of graft but not enough guile which makes me wonder where the chances will come from. 

I’m not sure if Scott High is really ready to become one of our main central midfielders given his lack of experience but there are few other options, which suggests that he’s likely to be given a chance to prove himself. He’s a hard worker and looks like he can strike the ball cleanly from long range but I think he might need a run of games to settle into the team and show what he’s really able to do. 

Hogg and O’Brien are known quantities so there’s not really much to say about them. The only thing is whether the recent speculation about O’Brien’s future could be a distraction to him and could even lead to him being removed from the squad to avoid the risk of injury. It feels like any transfer dealings for O’Brien are at the early stages though and I hope that we manage to keep hold of him at least for one more season.

Attack: Holmes, Ward, Thomas 

I don’t particularly like Duane Holmes as a right winger, I think he’s far more effective as a central midfielder but he’s played all preseason as a winger and the lack of options makes me think he will continue to play in this role. He’ll tuck inside a lot and open up the space for Turton to run into but won’t provide much width himself and often struggles to make an impact.

Danny Ward isn’t likely to set pulses racing among Town fans after his faltering first season back at Town but he’s the best option for the system we’re likely to play. Rhodes was given a go as a lone striker against Fleetwood and couldn’t get into the game. For all his flaws, Ward is better suited to playing up front on his own and if he can get on the end of a chance or two I think he’ll be able to score for us.

Sorba Thomas has been the standout player of preseason in my eyes. He looks quick, skillful and can take a decent set piece too. There are still a few rough edges to his game, which is to be expected after making the step up from non-league football, but he has bags of potential and could have a big season ahead of him.