Huddersfield Town

With a team featuring internationals Joel Lynch, Oliver Norwood and Martin Paterson, it was several of Town’s emerging stars who impressed alongside them in a dominant win at Nethermoor.

“It was a really good workout. I thought all the lads that played were excellent; they put a good shift in, ran well and passed the ball well,” Mark told htafc.com post-match. 

“Guiseley is a good side; they gave us a really tough game last year (a 2-2 draw). However, this year we did a lot better; we moved the ball, created our chances and taken some really good ones. Their ‘keeper made some good saves – he kept them in the game – and to be fair they scored a really good goal as well. 

“There was some good finishing and some wasted opportunities, but that is pre-season for you. Hopefully we can get that flow going, but I’m generally pleased with how things are progressing. This has been another game where we’ve managed to score four goals.”

Duane Holmes, Harry Bunn and substitute Jake Charles scored the goals alongside their senior colleague Norwood and Mark was happy with the impact all Town’s younger players made on the game.

He explained: “They were very good; their ability was there for everyone to see. You can see there is an ethos and way of doing things running throughout the Club now, which is really pleasing; its taken 12 months to get to this stage. That’s testament to all the work that is going on at the Club and the players that we are recruiting. 

“There is a ‘one club’ mentality and vision at Huddersfield Town and the senior players should be mentors for the younger players coming through. We have some good lads here, without a shadow of a doubt; good players who are good human beings as well and are prepared to help the young lads.”

Despite all the positives for Robins to take, he is still keen to see the players develop even further:

“When the young players step up and go higher, it is important that the hard work goes in – that is the foundation to make that step.

“We’ve got very talented individuals here in the attacking third of the pitch who can stick the ball in the net but when we don’t have the ball, we have to better. I said that when I first arrived and it’s still just as important now, as when you don’t have the ball there is danger and you have to win it back as quickly as possible.”

Next up for Town’s squad is an Under-21 friendly at Radcliffe Borough on Friday evening before Saturday’s First Team friendly at Scunthorpe United. 

Mark continued: “It doesn’t matter what game you play in, you have to be sharp. You have to get the yards into your legs and think about your game – and I think we are doing that now. Gradually our opposition gets better before 9 August and we’re looking to take that ethos into our remaining games of pre-season.

“The squad will have a rest tomorrow (Tuesday) and then we will start again. It’s quite an intense period of work coming up, so they need to get their legs back. 

“The lads who didn’t come to Guiseley tonight worked earlier in the day, because everyone has to be on a similar level in the fitness stakes. They put a very good shift in and that bodes well.

“In terms of injuries, we only have niggles. Oscar Gobern hurt his toe before we went to Portugal and he’s still missing, whereas Danny Ward has a tight hamstring and Sean Scannell has a tight groin. Anthony Gerrard has had a calf injury for about a week now, but he is nearing a return.”