Terriers back on home soil this Saturday
For the first time since March 1972, Huddersfield Town will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to West Yorkshire in the seventh game of the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Spurs will be the first opponent that the Terriers will face who are in European competition this season, with the London side having played in Cyprus at Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The likes of Harry Kane, Deli Alli and Jan Vertonghen will provide the Terriers with a stern test of their undefeated Premier League home record, but it is one that Head Coach David Wagner and the team will relish this weekend.
As the game is live on Sky Sports, kick-off has been brought forward to 12.30pm.
THE OPPONENT
Spurs enjoyed a superb 2016/17 season, finishing as runners-up in the Premier League and reaching the last 32 of the Champions League.
The early season signs are equally promising for manager Mauricio Pochettino’s men, who arrive in fourth place in the embryonic Premier League table with 11 points from six games.
Spurs’ form away from their temporary Wembley Stadium home has been particularly impressive; the London side has won all three top flight away games played so far this season at Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham United.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The obvious choice is striker Harry Kane, who further cemented his position as one of the world’s top performing forwards with a Champions League hat-trick in Cyprus on Tuesday night. Domestically his form is equally impressive, with four goals in six Premier League games to date. That adds to his 35 in all competitions last season.
Kane has appeared at the John Smith’s Stadium before during a loan spell at Leyton Orient. His JSS debut was lively; coming on as a substitute in the 19th minute, he scored before being sent off late on!
Another player to watch out for is Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen. With two goals and two assists to date, he’s an expert from set pieces and will need to be watched closely from open play if he recovers from the illness that kept him out of midweek action.
Further back, Ben Davies has impressed in the early stages of 2017/18. The left-sided defender – a Welsh international – has appeared as a wing back in Spurs’ 3-4-2-1 formation and has already scored this season, but was versatile enough to appear as the left-sided centre back in Cyprus in midweek too.
NEW SIGNINGS
Spurs strengthened in the summer with a selection of astute signings.
21 year-old Colombian international defender Davinson Sánchez arrived from Dutch giants Ajax for a fee that could rise to a reported £42 million. The centre back will still be learning his trade, but already looks a great one-on-one defender in his early Spurs appearances.
Another player who is impressing in the Spurs shirt early on is Ivorian international right back Serge Aurier, who joined the Club from PSG this summer. However, he is suspended for this weekend’s fixture.
Experienced Spanish international striker Fernando Llorente (below) was a somewhat surprise arrival to some when he made the move for an undisclosed fee from Swansea City. Very powerful in the air, he netted 15 league goals for the Welsh side last campaign and has been used as an impact player from the bench so far.
There were another couple of arrivals into the First Team squad too. Teenage centre back Juan Foyth; 19 year-old brought in from Argentinean football for a reported £8 million, whilst goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was reunited with Mauricio Pochettino, joining from his former club Southampton. He’s third choice behind Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm.
SPURS’ LAST PREMIER LEAGUE XI (3-4-2-1):
GK: Hugo Lloris
DC: Jan Vertonghen
DC: Davinson Sánchez
DC: Toby Alderweireld
WBL: Ben Davies
MC: Eric Dier
MC: Moussa Sissoko
WBR: Serge Aurier
AMC: Deli Alli
AMC: Christian Eriksen
S: Harry Kane
TEAM NEWS – TOWN
David Wagner has been without several players over the last fortnight. Striker Steve Mounié has been side-lined with a damaged heel, while Kasey Palmer (hamstring), Danny Williams (broken bone in foot), Collin Quaner (calf) and Jon Gorenc Stanković (knee) have also been missing.
TEAM NEWS – SPURS
Pochettino looks likely to be missing Danny Rose (knee), Victor Wanyama (knee) and Erik Lamela (hips), whilst aforementioned right back Serge Aurier will be suspended after a red card in last weekend’s win at West Ham United. Former Burnley man Kieran Trippier looks the most likely candidate to deputise.
Midfielder Mousa Dembele’s injured ankle will be assessed ahead of this weekend’s game, whilst it will be hoped that Christian Eriksen recovers from the illness that kept him out of midweek action.
Defender Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Deli Alli both served European suspensions for Tuesday night’s game against Apoel Nicosia, but will be available this weekend.
KIT
Being at home, the Terriers will be in their traditional blue and white stripes at the John Smith’s Stadium this weekend.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for this game are now sold out, so Season Card holders are being encouraged to free up their seat if they cannot make the game via Terriers Exchange. Click HERE for full information.
#HTTV
If you didn’t manage to get a ticket and would like to listen to the game, you can receive full match commentary provided by BBC Radio Leeds via #HTTV+; click here to subscribe now!
