Teacher’s pet to start – Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Reading

Huddersfield Town are in Reading today to try to extend their eight-game unbeaten run against a team that are really struggling for form. While we’re regularly reminded that there are no easy games in the Championship, this fixture represents one of the less tricky ones. Though the last time I thought that was when we played Nottingham Forest during their abysmal run and they played us off the park.

Town weren’t at their best against Swansea last weekend but managed to cling on for a point against a team that played better than us on the day. Today’s game represents an opportunity for Town to have more of the ball and hopefully to give our attackers a platform to try and win the game. 

Here’s how I think Town will lineup today:

Goalkeeper: Lee Nicholls

I thought having only two senior keepers on the books was a little bit of a risk at the start of this season but now Ryan Schofield is out injured and has question marks over his ability to start games, we’re left with Nicholls and youngsters. If Town are serious about a playoff push, we should be looking at bringing in another keeper to challenge Nicholls. 

While “The Sloth” has had an excellent season so far, it feels too risky to rely on him both staying fit and in good form for the rest of the season. I don’t know a great deal about Bilokapic, who is now our reserve keeper, bringing in some experience to provide cover and competition would seem like a sensible move.

Defence: Turton, Pearson, Lees, Toffolo 

While I’ve speculated previously that Turton’s continued selection by Corberan may be because the former Blackpool man has compromising pictures of his boss, the real reason is more boring. Carlos explained in his pre match press conference that Turton’s ability to do a job as either a centre back or fullback allows him to switch formation without changing the players on the pitch and may explain why he gets so many minutes on the pitch. Whether he plays as an actual fullback or as the right side of a defensive three is debatable but the teacher’s pet is likely to start today. 

Person and Lees both had fine games last weekend against Swansea, when a lot of last ditch defensive work was required to get us through the game. Naby Sarr might have expected to step in because of Colwill’s absence through injury but we looked more solid without him. I can’t imagine Sarr coping well under the sustained pressure our back line came under last weekend and with Edmonds-Green and Crichlow coming back from loan at the end of this season it seems increasingly unlikely Sarr will have his contract extended when it expires.

Toffolo will obviously start. I feel sorry for Josh Rufells because we’ve not seen enough of him this season to know if he’s any good or not. Toffolo is too consistent to consider dropping and is rarely injured. Maybe the upcoming FA Cup game against Barnsley will give him a chance to show he’s a genuine alternative to Toffolo.

Midfield: Thomas, Hogg, O’Brien, Koroma

Sorba Thomas tore Reading to shreds in the reverse of this fixture earlier in the season and will be hoping for more of the same today. It’s possible that Reading will be ready for him today and double up against him when he’s on the ball. That was part of why Thomas’ early season form dipped for a while in November and December, teams knew he was our biggest threat and gave him extra attention. The next stage of his development is to be able to produce even when opposition teams try to mark him out of the game.

There is a sizable chunk of Town fans that aren’t that keen on Hoggy and I’ve seen comments that we may have been better without him in the team. The fact that he’s been a key player for every Town manager in his many years at the club shows how well respected he is within the game and if he’s fit he will start today. His limitations can be frustrating at times, often being too slow and unambitious on the ball, but his strength in protecting the defence and the way he organises the team on the pitch outweigh the negatives. Plus he’s good at pointing and shouting, which every team needs. Anthony Kay, for those that remember, is my all-time favourite point and shout merchant, but Hogg is a close second.

O’Brien continues to be consistently good in every game he plays. He’s better in some games than others but it’s been a long time since I’d say he had a genuinely bad game, even when those around him aren’t so good. He’s not the type of player to dictate play by spraying balls around and controlling the game but he does drive the ball forward from midfield very well and is increasingly getting into the box to cause problems. He had five shots last weekend and was unlucky not to score from at least one but sadly he caught Ben Hamer in the kind of form we never saw from him in his Town career.

I’m putting Koroma down as a left winger in the midfield but he’ll most likely play somewhere between a winger and a striker. He’s been linked with a move away from the club lately, with Forest and Bournemouth listed as potential suitors. My feeling is that he’ll need to start producing more regularly if he wants to tempt another club into taking him on. If the interest is serious rather than just paper talk he could be rested to avoid picking up an injury but I’m guessing he’ll play.

Forwards: Ward, Sinani

Danny Ward has been great at the top end of the pitch lately. While he’s not the prolific striker we’ve wanted for a long time, he does put in the graft required from strikers in Carlos’ system and does at least provide a threat when given decent service.

I heard rumours that Sinani was out for a long spell earlier in the week but that must have been wrong as he is in contention for today’s game. It’s possible he may not be fit enough to start the game after being subbed off at half time last weekend but the lack of alternative options due to Holmes’ continued self-isolation means he’ll most likely play if he’s capable.