Chris targets first win of the season
- Chris Powell previews Saturdays clash against Queens Park Rangers
- Huddersfield could face former ‘keeper Alex Smithies
- Manager confirms no new injury concerns
Chris Powell met with the press at PPG Canalside ahead of Saturday’s game against Queens Park Rangers on Thursday afternoon.
The recent speculation surrounding Jacob Butterfield was near the top of the agenda again, which Chris was happy to discuss:
"I would reiterate we have turned down several bids and that shows we are trying to stay strong.
"I understand how football works; we can't stop people picking up the phone and calling us. We have a value and a price for every player and if it's not met, my Chairman says no. We have been fair in our behaviour. I want him to continue in the blue and white of Huddersfield Town.
"Jacob is still working away and doing fantastically well. It has been tough for him but he's played, which is testament to him. He played against Fulham and Brighton when all the talk was going on."
Chris then moved on to talk about Sean Scannell after he returned from injury at Fulham last Saturday:
"We played a waiting game and have been careful with Sean. He returned to training and we have managed him well. It is important to know if he can or can't do full training. He has trained and I'm sure tomorrow there should be no reaction.
"I thought he was dangerous in the second half last Saturday and should be fine for this weekend. We have trained pretty hard and have had three games in eight days, but there are no new injury concerns."
On Saturday’s game against QPR, Chris explained:
“We want our first win. We want more positive results, getting three points rather than just the one.
"Some people might say we are on an unbeaten run but it's not really the case for me; you want an unbeaten run with wins in it.
“We are in every game, but we need to be a bit more clinical. We are creating chances but the most important stat is the one after your name. That's where we need to have that danger and the nous to turn one point into three.
"We are not far away; we just need to tip it in our favour. We don’t need wholesale changes; it's just converting the chances. We have been working on that and it will be a big test for us on Saturday but we can do it."
He then moved on to talk about Saturday’s opponent, Queens Park Rangers.
"Alex [Dyer] went to watch them against Wolves last week and we also went to watch them against Carlisle on Tuesday. They had two different teams playing, with only Grant Hall starting in both games. Straight away that shows their squad is pretty big.
"They still have a formidable squad, with two or three players who could quite conceivably could move for a lot of money; the likes of Charlie Austin, Matt Phillips and Rob Green. They still have players who are good enough for the higher division.
“But one thing I always say to the players is they are in our league and that says you are at the same level as them. It counts for nothing. The 11 that are out there on Saturday have earned that right and I hope we can beat them."
A minute’s silence will be observed prior to Saturday's match as a mark of respect to those that lost their lives in the Shoreham air disaster, including Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, two young footballers who played for Worthing United FC.
