By Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Nathan Clarke is bang on course for a Town return.

The 23-year-old defender is going strong in pre-season training and already looking forward to some first match action in five months.

Clarke - whose younger brother Tom is also on the comeback trail after knee surgery - has been sidelined since February after a cartilage problem.

He has benefited from a full summer of rehabilitation under physio Lee Martin, however, and is now looking to impress new manager Andy Ritchie.

"I'm feeling really good," said Clarke (pictured) today.

"I know we've been back to training for only a couple of days, but I'm well and really strong and keeping up with everyone again. It is just good to be back on the training ground after so long out and there's a really positive feeling among the players. The new lads have enhanced that by slotting in really well, the banter is good and I think we are all looking forward to getting going."

Clarke lost six pounds in weight over the summer - the squad were given a 4lb addition as their limit - and puts it down to plenty of hard graft.

"I had just a week's holiday straight after the season and, since then, it's been pretty hard work to make sure I was ready for this point," he explained.

"That has certainly helped to keep my weight off - my body fat is down as well - and it will all be a bonus as we step things up in the rest of this week. It's been really enjoyable so far and I know Tom has been glad to get back as well. He's been working really hard and has done brilliantly to get back from his injury."