Town boss looks ahead to Saturday at Turf Moor
- Chris Powell previews Burnley game
- Manager gives an update on injuries
- Powell looking for his side to compete well
After last weekend’s game against Derby County, the next test for the Terriers is Saturday’s trip to third placed Burnley.
“That’s the league that we are in,” Manager Chris Powell explained to htafc.com earlier today.
On Burnley, Chris explained:
“Burnley’s team has a certain way of playing, which they do very well. They have got some good players that have been together for a long time and we are going to have to go there and compete.
“Burnley has spent good money on Andre Gray and that is the sort of power these teams have. Their aspiration is to go straight back up. It will be tough out there for us.”
The Manager would love to get back to the defensive form that saw his team keep successive clean sheets ahead of the Derby defeat.
“It is going to be tough. We know Burnley has good firepower, but it would be most welcome on the road because it is a very tough assignment for us. We will prepare the players the way we always do and look for them to get back on to doing those good things defensively.”
Giving an update on the Club’s injuries, Chris explained:
“It can be tough and we are a bit threadbare at the moment. Obviously we lost Sean Scannell last week and he will not be ready; Jon Hogg will not be ready either and we have got one or two others who may miss out. We are not entirely sure as it stands.”
Chris indicated that a number of the Club’s table-topping Under-21 side will be in the squad at Turf Moor tomorrow:
“Tomorrow I think I am going to have five or even six Under-21 lads in the squad and they will be playing against some experienced players. That is why they are here and that is why we give them a squad number, because there are times when they will be called upon.
“Sometimes they just go with it and things happen for them. Flo (Bojaj) was only on the pitch for five minutes against MK Dons and one of them led to a goal.
“That will not always happen and we have got to understand that. You have to give them a bit of trust and a bit of love, a bit of care and motivate them to do as best they can. They will learn from it. Phil Billing had it this year with 45 minutes away to Charlton and he has actually grown in stature, in his mental capacity on training and hopefully that will hold him in good stead for the future.”
With players on the sidelines, Chris reiterated that loanees Murray Wallace and Joe Lolley can be called back at 24 hours’ notice:
“We can bring them back at any time. If I need them, I will get them back.
“He has done very well, Murray. He has got the game time that he wanted and craved, which he needed for sure.
“Joe is a little bit different. If we need him, if we have got injuries and if we are short, I can get him back. We know that can happen with both Joe and Murray.
Powell also indicated that loanee Jamie Paterson may soon get more game time after impressing in cameos from the bench:
“He has been patient, which I told him to be. There will be times that he will start games and there will be times he will come on and make a difference. There will be games that I feel will be right for him and other games where it is not and that is the same with every player.
“He has been doing very well in training, so let’s hope now when he does get on that pitch for us from a start or the bench that he displays the good talent he has.”
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