Matty Pearson has joined Huddersfield Town’s growing injury list
Huddersfield Town manager Michael Duff thinks injuries are “hurting” his side right now after suffering another setback on that front.
Following Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Reading, the head coach stated that Matty Pearson is the latest player to be sidelined due to a “significant tear” in his calf.
The Terriers’ overall injury situation appeared to be improving by the end of last month, but Ruben Roosken and Rhys Healey have since been sidelined, and new recruit Joe Taylor is now out.
Town welcomed David Kasumu back into the squad for the first time since late December for Saturday’s draw, while Josh Koroma and Tom Lees both returned after missing the 3-2 loss to Northampton Town.
However, with Pearson being on the injury list for a while, Duff told HTTV: “The injuries are affecting us; there’s no getting around it.
“We have an extraordinary quantity of injuries, and many of them are similar-type guys in terms of pace and power, like Kas. Joe Taylor embodies pace and force, as does Mickel Miller, Ruben, and Nigel (Lonwijk). It’s what it is.
“Matty Pearson is now out for an extended amount of time; he pulled his calf and we have no idea when he did it. He reported it Friday morning, and a scan revealed a substantial rip.
“I don’t know what we’ve done at the minute, someone’s run over a black cat or something like that, but come in, work on the positives and the negatives, because there are both from every game.”
Duff made five changes from the poor loss at Sixfields, including Lee Nicholls replacing Jacob Chapman in goal for his first start since September.
The head coach explained his choice, saying, “I think Chappy’s been really good.” Lee is the number one at the football club, as I’ve always stated, but Chappy allowed us to wait until Lee was fit before throwing him into action.
“I didn’t want to get to the point where I was waiting for Chappy to make a mistake before leaving him off the team, because I don’t think that’s fair to him. We’ve had a horrible week, so you’re attempting to refresh and rejig things a little.
“I don’t think Lee made any notable saves tonight, which perhaps reflects the situation of the game, given they have threats and tremendous pace at the top of the pitch. I believe Lee did well in whatever he was asked to do.”
Following Saturday’s draw, the Terriers are fifth in League One, with 49 points from 29 games. Town went 16 games unbeaten in the division until suffering three successive defeats previous to Saturday’s point.
“We believe we have adequately prepared and trained. “People become obsessed with results, which I understand because we work in a results-driven industry, but it’s either right or wrong,” Duff added.
“everything can’t be ‘everything was fine when we were winning games and now the prep isn’t good’; it has to be remaining consistent, which we have done.
“The one thing we haven’t been able to do consistently is select the same 11. We will not do anything dramatic.
“I believe we did enough to win the game tonight; we just didn’t take our chances. I believe we did the same thing against Bolton; we didn’t take chances, so we just need to keep working.”
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