Huddersfield Town are starting their road to Wembley tonight, with their first group game of this year’s Vertu Trophy. It might be a bit premature to start booking hotels for the final, but the ambition from the club is to go all the way in this competition. We’ll get a sense of how serious the club are about pursuing this target when we see the lineup tonight. If Lee Grant picks mostly first-team members, then we’re going for it. If it’s mainly B Teamers with a few fringe first teamers getting a run out, then we’re not actually that serious about this competition.
Here’s how I think we’ll line up…
Goalkeeper: Goodman
With a stay on the sidelines coming up after his red card at the weekend, Goodman has a last chance to get some minutes in before stepping aside for Lee Nicholls. I was expecting Nicholls to play in this game regardless, to help him get up to speed but Lee Grant as good as confirmed that Goodman would start in nets for this game. Let’s hope he’s learned from the weekend’s mishaps and keeps a cool head.
Defence: Sorensen, Whatmough, Wallace, Sway
I originally had Neo Eccleston pencilled in for a start in this game, but he’s gone out on loan to Grimsby, so we’ve got Gooch and Sorensen as right-back options. With Gooch starting both games last week, he’s due a rest tonight, and Sorensen is the most likely to play.
Jack Whatmough was the star performer against Sunderland but didn’t do enough to displace Feeney from the league team at the weekend and didn’t even make the bench. He’ll step back in tonight and his physicality is most likely something Under 21s won’t have come up against before.
I’ve made some remarks about Murray Wallace’s struggles at left back but he looks a lot more comfortable in central defence. His lack of pace is easier to mark when in central defence but when out in the left back area, he looks petrified of pace. His experience and leadership will be valuable to have with a lot of younger ones on the pitch.
Jay Sway isn’t a leftback but I think he’ll play there because that’s where the gap is and he’s done it for us already in preseason. I like the look of Sway and think he’s got a good amount of potential. He’s a fairly attacking fullback, so may struggle if he’s up against a tricky winger but will make up for that by being able to contribute when we go forward.
Midfield: Kasumu, Vost
David Kasumu is currently playing better than both Kane and Ledson when he gets opportunities. Another good game tonight and his case will become even stronger. His energy and physical attributes aren’t in doubt but I think he needs to show more care with his passing to win over Lee Grant.
After impressing in preseason, Daniel Vost has made the step into the first team for cup games and looked quite comfortable. My feeling is that he’s probably got even more to show but has played it fairly safe so far, to avoid the risk of making a mistake so early in his senior playing career. Taking a few more risks and gambling a bit more with the ball might be the best way for him to show what he’s really about.
Attackers: Charles, Castledine, Ashia
Dion Charles must feel a bit aggrieved about how much he’s fallen down the pecking order at Town, given he only arrived at the club in January. While he looks low in confidence and shy in front of goal, he always works hard and looks to have a nice touch. These cup games are a good opportunity for him to try to play himself into form. With so much competition for the main striker role, I expect he’ll have to play elsewhere to get minutes.
I’ve liked the look of Leo Castledine in the bits and pieces he’s played so far. The length of the pitch run and sliding challenge against Doncaster and the screamer he scored against Sunderland mean he’s already created two memorable moments for this season. Playing against youth players will give him an opportunity to get a bit more time and space on the ball, in theory at least.
Cameron Ashia has been given quite a few chances in the first month of the season, but with two new arrivals coming through the door in his area of the pitch, his place in the squad may be under threat. Tonight is a good opportunity to lay down a marker, before the new boys are indoctrinated in Northern Football enough to play games.
Striker: Radulovic
As I alluded to above, I don’t think Alves or Redmond will start tonight with neither having participated in a full training session yet. So that leaves us with the usual suspects to pick from up top. Alfie May got a painful-looking stamp on his foot against Barnsley and while Grant was blase about it in the media, I suspect he’s doubtful for Peterborough. With that in mind, Taylor shouldn’t be risked from the start in this game. With picking Dion Charles for the Harness role, that leaves Bojan Radulovic to start. I half expected him to leave yesterday but if he’s hanging around, then we should give him a run out to prove he’s got something to offer.