8 Huddersfield Town players who still have point to make

8 Huddersfield Town players who still have point to make

There’s a good few players in Neil Warnock’s squad who have already confirmed their credentials for the season ahead, but there’s a few on the fence or on the wrong side of it

The Terriers have got through four friendlies so far this summer – the last of which came behind closed doors against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday – and they still have more to come with Saturday’s trip to face Stockport and the following week’s home fixture against Heerenveen.

Neil Warnock has used those games as a chance to look at his Huddersfield Town squad, and he has been more pleased with some players than others. There’s a few members of that side who occupy something of a middle ground, though, either because they’ve not had a chance to show what they can do or because they are yet to have that standout summer performance to truly announce themselves for the new season. Here’s who we had in mind…

Jordan Rhodes: The veteran has not gone forgotten amid all the talk of needing to sign a striker; we simply don’t have any evidence that Warnock has any desire to use him. Rhodes’ absence on the West Country tour last week was explained by injury, and the club have confirmed that he played in that behind-closed-doors game, but it still feels like Rhodes would have some way to go to force his way into the starting line-up.

Tyreece Simpson and Kyle Hudlin: Both got their chance in Devon and Cornwall, but neither of them took that opportunity as convincingly as Kian Harratt. All of that trio are still developing youngsters so they have time on their side, but we’d like to see something to suggest that they could do an immediate job in the Championship; so far only one of them has given us that.

Read more: Huge Huddersfield Town fitness boost as Yuta Nakayama steps up recovery from injury

Yuta Nakayama: This summer has been all about fitness for the defender, and it’s hugely encouraging that he got his first minutes of match action on Tuesday afternoon. Now the Japanese international needs to start putting himself in Warnock’s thoughts ahead of the re-signed Josh Ruffels.

Josh Austerfield and Scott High: Curiously the former was taken on tour while High was left at home. We know how highly Warnock rates Jonathan Hogg, Jack Rudoni, Brahima Diarra and Rarmani Edmonds-Green, while David Kasumu got himself back in the good books late last season – but Etienne Camara’s departure has opened up the field for that more ball-playing midfielder we think Town might need from time to time. The upcoming games offer a better chance to demonstrate those qualities than games against non-league opposition.

Brodie Spencer: Likewise, those were perhaps not the best games for a full-back to make a strong impression on the manager (we know we liked what we saw from Jaheim Headley against Liskeard, but that was as a wing-back rather than in a back four). Games against stronger opposition could stand the right-back in good stead.

Tom Lees: No doubting his quality or his place in the squad; he just needs to show he’s fit and ready for the start of the new season.