Opposition Lowdown: Michael Duff’s Faltering Huddersfield Town

Reading face a trip up north to play Huddersfield Town this weekend. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.

Form

Huddersfield Town were relegated from the Championship last season, finishing 23rd in the league, six points from safety. Relegation ended their five-year stay in the second tier, where they had sat since their relegation from the Premier League in 2019.

They are in the hunt for a playoff place and the chance for a straight return to the second tier, currently sitting in fifth place in the league after 14 wins, six draws and eight losses. However, their recent form has been questionable, with the Terriers losing their last three league games, while seeing one win and one loss in the previous two.

They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 3-2 away loss to Northampton Town, while they have also lost their last two home games, against Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers.

The two sides faced each other at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in September, with the Royals claiming a 2-1 win, after goals from Harvey Knibbs and Ben Elliott.

The boss

Michael Duff: Duff was appointed Huddersfield manager in May last year, taking over from Andre Breitenreiter, who left following their relegation from the Championship.

The former centre-back had a 20-year career as a player but only represented two clubs - Cheltenham Town and Burnley - where he made over 300 appearances for each club. Following his retirement in 2016, Duff worked with Burnley’s youth teams before securing his first managerial job with Cheltenham Town in 2018.

He spent almost four years at The Robins, where he won the League Two title in 2021, before guiding the club to their highest-ever league position (15th in League One) the following season.

Duff went on to join Barnsley in 2022, where he guided the Tykes to the League One playoff final, which they lost to Sheffield Wednesday. He joined Championship Swansea City that summer, but he was sacked by the Swans less than six months later due to poor form.

The 47-year-old has had a strong start to his Huddersfield career so far, with the side sitting in fifth place in the league after 28 games. Duff likes his sides to play a high press, while also playing out from the back.

Squad

Four players left Huddersfield in the January transfer window with defenders Jaheim Headley and Michal Helik joining Port Vale and Oxford United respectively, while forward Kian Harratt signed for Harrogate Town and striker Bojan Radulovic joined Dutch side Fortuna Sittard on loan for the remainder of the season.

Four players joined, with wing-back Ruben Roosken arriving from Heracles Alemlo, forwards Joe Taylor and Dion Charles coming in from from Luton Town and Bolton respectively, while midfielder Tawanda Chirewa signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Striker Danny Ward has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Defenders Ruben Roosken and Nigel Lonwijk and forward Rhys Healey will also miss out through injury.

Predicted lineup

Chapman, Pearson, Lees, Spencer, Sorensen, Roosken, Wiles, Hogg, Hodge, Chirewa, Charles

Key player

8. Ben Wiles: Midfielder Wiles signed for Huddersfield in August 2023, joining from Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee.

He started his career in the youth setup at Rotherham and made his debut for the club in 2017, following a loan spell at Frickley Athletic. Wiles went on to make 193 appearances for Rotherham, scoring 17 goals.

The 25-year-old has represented Huddersfield 64 times since his move across Yorkshire. Wiles is Town’s joint-top-scorer so far this season, tied with forward Callum Marshall, with both players currently on six goals apiece. He’s also their joint-top-creator, with four assists to his name so far.

Wiles is a centre midfielder who has a great eye for a key pass and favours shooting from range. He is also very versatile and has played at wing-back, attacking midfielder and as a winger throughout his career.

One to watch

17. Brodie Spencer: Defender Spencer has worked his way into the first team via the Huddersfield youth system. He started his career in the academy at Northern Irish side Cliftonville, before signing for the Huddersfield B team in 2020.

Spencer made his professional debut for the club in 2022 but gained further first-team experience in a loan spell with Scottish side Motherwell in 2023. Spencer became a first-team regular for the Terriers upon his return to the club and made 20 Championship appearances for the club last season.

He has played a part in the majority of Huddersfield’s league games this season and now has 52 appearances for the club, with three goals to his name. The 20-year-old is a full Northern Ireland international who currently has nine caps.

Spencer is a centre-back, who can also play as a wing-back or wide midfielder, and is strong in the air.