The versatile Tom Clarke is hoping to make a big contribution towards Town's promotion push for the rest of the 2009/10 season, beginning with the visit of Millwall to the Galpharm Stadium on Friday night.
Tom has impressed in central midfield earlier in the campaign only to see his run in the team thwarted by injury, but he was handed his chance to stake a place back in the starting eleven courtesy of an unfortunate injury to right-back Lee Peltier at Brentford last Saturday and has not looked back.
"I went to the game preparing to be on the bench, but obviously 'Pelts' struggled in the warm-up. To be fair, he's had a niggle with his ankle for a while now and it played up again so the staff came to me and explained that I would be starting at right-back," Tom told htafc.com.
"I always make sure I keep myself ready, as do the other players, so I was happy to step in. 'Blackie's' warm-ups are always high tempo so we are bound to be ready, but you do get that little adrenaline surge where you realise that you need to concentrate fully. There is a big difference in going from being on the bench to starting a game in five minutes!
"I'd like to think I can make a big contribution before the end of the season - I want to play my part in our push for the Play-Offs, just like everyone else. Obviously it's unfortunate for 'Pelts' that he's injured but it has given me my chance and I want to keep my place."
Tom played the full 90 minutes in the dramatic 4-3 home win over Walsall on Tuesday night and praised the character his teammates showed to score two late goals to seal all three points.
"We were comfortable against Walsall, but we knew that they would work even harder when they went down to ten men and that proved to be the case. We defended badly and it very nearly cost us, but the lads here have real character - we are capable of comebacks like that."
Now Clarke wants to take that momentum into Friday night's 7.45pm kick-off against Millwall, who currently sit third in the League One ladder.
"Collectively we know we can't defend like that against Millwall, but in the end we scored four goals and beat Walsall so we are going into the game full of confidence. Millwall are doing well and are up there, so theoretically it might not be the final time we play them this season!
"We're all excited about the prospect of the Play-Offs, but just like the Gaffer has been saying we have to take things one game at a time. We've got a very tough game in prospect against Millwall but we will enter it with confidence and try to gain all three points.
"We're in sixth position at the minute and it's ours to lose now. We just need to enter each game with confidence and play the attacking football we are good at, whilst ensuring we defend well.
"Playing for Huddersfield Town at Wembley has always been a dream for me and my brother. We've been at this Club a long time but we've never achieved it and to go up with this team, under this staff, would be great."
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