Manager praises his players’ adaptability
- Danny Cowley previews Town’s game at Charlton Athletic
- Manager issues an update on the injury situation
- Cowley: “Charlton have a character about them”
Huddersfield Town Manager Danny Cowley has praised the adaptability of his available players as they prepare for the Sky Bet Championship game at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.
The Cowley brothers had to field a much-changed side in the weekend’s game against Leeds United, with Steve Mounié, Josh Koroma and Demeaco Duhaney all getting their first league starts of the season.
Given the big changes that were made, Cowley was proud of how his players adapted to the challenge of taking on high-flying Leeds United in the local derby.
“For us, it is always about the process and, at the moment, that is about being adaptable.
“I thought the players did really well on Saturday considering the circumstances. We changed the personnel, the formation and the style, which is a lot of change, but the players were adaptable in their thinking. I was proud of the players’ efforts.
“Charlton are a different team and proposition on Tuesday night, but we will still have to adapt. We will find the best way of playing with the group we have available. It’s a tough moment, but we’re doing our collective best to navigate through the situation.
“I’m a pretty simple man. I ask the players to show a work ethic, determination and desire and to play within the tactical framework of the team. If they do those things, I know – over time – we will accumulate the results we need to get us through this position.”
Cowley isn’t expecting his match day squad to change much ahead of the quick turnaround to Charlton at the Valley on Tuesday evening.
“I think the group will be similar. We’re confident that we might be able to add one or two players back into the squad, but we’ll leave that decision until the last minute. With the previous game only being on Saturday, we’ll give ourselves the longest possible time before making that decision.
“There’s no doubt that we are missing the players who are unavailable, but ultimately we cannot effect that. Like I’ve said before, football doesn’t care about excuses and me moaning about who we’re missing. We’ll focus on the players we do have and coming up with a game plan that will make us competitive against Charlton on Tuesday night.”
The Addicks’ own injury issues has affected their results recently, but Danny was full of praise for the job that Town’s midweek opponents are doing on their return to the Sky Bet Championship.
“I think they’ve had a fantastic period under Lee Bowyer, getting a brilliant promotion at Wembley against a strong Sunderland team.
“On the back of that, they enjoyed the bounce that you often see from newly-promoted teams and were second in September. Then, like ourselves, they’ve had problems with injury and things going against them and they’ve endured a tough period recently.
“They’ve got a character about them; a determination. They’re a group that is together. We know it will be a tough game come Tuesday night.”
Watch the rest of Danny’s pre-Charlton press conference on HTTV!
Town fans can pay on the evening at Charlton on Tuesday; click HERE for details
