Clark ready for a battle

Stuart Watson

HUDDERSFIELD Town manager Lee Clark knows his team will have to 'battle and scrap' against Colchester today if they are to turn their recent downturn in form around.

The Terriers made a storming start to the season but have now failed to win in their last four League One matches following Tuesday night's defeat at Walsall.

The Yorkshire side - who invested heavily in their playing squad over the summer - still remain in sixth-place though and Clark is relishing the chance to turn things round at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“Colchester are in very good form. They are getting results and doing very well; they are near the top of the league and rightly so.

“I am looking forward to the game, because it gives us an opportunity to change the situation we are in.

“Don't think that the starting point of recovery will be us going somewhere and out-footballing a team - we will have to battle and scrap.

“We need to gradually get our confidence back and do the basics correctly in order to play fantastic football, which will come again - we have too many fantastic footballers in the group for it not to.”

Tom Clarke remains the only absentee from Huddersfield's first-team squad as he is working his way back from knee ligament damage, but Clark has refused to rule out changes to his team.

Wingers Gary Roberts and Lionel Ainsworth, strikers Robbie Simpson and Lee Novak and midfielder Michael Collins have all found themselves on the fringes in recent weeks, but could come into consideration as Clark looks to rediscover the winning formula.

In addition, 17-year-old left-winger Aiden Chippendale has been added to the squad following three goals in five starts for the Under-18s.

Former Ipswich Town striker Jordan Rhodes will be Huddersfield's danger man, the 19-year-old having already scored eight goals in a Terriers shirt since his summer switch.