Huddersfield Town

The game against the Owls is the first of three successive Yorkshire derbies for the Terriers, with subsequent matches against Barnsley on 1 March and at Doncaster Rovers on 8 March.

“It’s very interesting to have three derbies in a row; they are three massive games for us,” Paul told htafc.com. 

“There are quite a few derbies in this division this season and they are quite unique games in that anything can happen, regardless of form coming into the game. They can throw up anything, as we’ve seen this season already.

“Sheffield Wednesday’s results have improved since the new Manager took over. They will be a different proposition to when we played them in November. In that game we were fairly comfortable against them, but we conceded another late goal to win 2-1 but put a dampener on things.

“If we apply ourselves like we did against Birmingham and Wigan, we will get positive results. We did exactly what we had worked on at the training ground when we played last weekend, apart from letting the goal in at the end – that was the only negative from the day.” 

Dixon’s impressive form has led to him being named the Blue & White Foundation’s January Player of the Month and he admitted that he’s happy with his own performances of late.

“It was a bit of a topsy-turvy start to the season. I was left out and sometimes not involved in the squad at all, but I’ve learned from that and put it behind me now. I’m very happy with how I’ve done up until this point, so hopefully I can carry this form forward into the last 15 games of the season.”

Town fans may have expected Paul to be named in the Scotland squad for their friendly in Poland next month, but he wasn’t surprised.

“I don’t think I was anywhere near the squad, to be honest,” he continued. “I knew Gordon Strachan was at Birmingham last weekend, but I think he was there to watch Chris Burke. 

“I was quite annoyed not to be involved this time, because given how I have been playing I thought I would have a good chance of being involved. This has shown me that I don’t have much chance. I’m over it now; I don’t worry about it. At the end of the day it is Mr Strachan’s decision; if he doesn’t want to pick me that is his choice – I can’t do anything about that. 

“I’d love to play for Scotland again, but if I never do I can hold my head up high. I played three times for my country and I’m unbeaten, as well as being ‘Man of the Match’ on my debut. They are memories that can never be taken away.” 

One short-term target for Dixon is to net his first Town goal; he’s yet to break his duck after 65 appearances.

“It would definitely be nice to score – I’ll keep trying! I think I’ve had more shots on my right than my left, so maybe I need to cut the other way and I’ll have more luck! I’ll keep trying until the end of the season and see how I get on. 

“At the end of the day, I would help the team if I grab a goal and that’s what we’re all there to do. If I can score or put in a cross for someone else to score from, that’s what I’m there for.” 

With 15 games left in the current campaign, Dixon is keen to adhere to the old adage of taking ‘one game at a time’.

“We’re just concentrating on getting three points in each game that comes along. Perhaps one or two will have an eye on how many points we’d like to gain before the end of the season, but you just can’t tell what will happen in the Championship; we just have to take it as it comes.”