Danny Cowley on why injury-hit Huddersfield Town will be 'fear free' against Leeds United

BOSS Danny Cowley admits injury-hit Huddersfield Town will be relying on a young side against Leeds United but a youthful Terriers outfit that will be "fear free" against Marcelo Bielsa's Whites.
INJURY HEADACHE: For Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.INJURY HEADACHE: For Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.
INJURY HEADACHE: For Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.

Cowley has a stack of injuries to contend with and in particular in defence with centre-back Tommy Elphick (knee) out for the season and with right-back Danny Simpson (hip) and left-back Jaden Brown (ankle) facing late fitness tests.

Striker Fraizer Campbell (hip) is another doubt while Trevoh Chalobah sits out the second match of a three-game ban.

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Cowley also admits that Alex Pritchard has been suffering from fatigue on his own return from injury and the Terriers have been forced to recall their young loan players in Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Bromley), Demeaco Duhaney (Boston United), Scott High (Concord Rangers) and Ben Jackson (Stockport County).

Town are rated as big as 6-1 shots - even at home - but Cowley says there are still positives to be drawn from fielding such a young side.

"We’re going to be a young team," said Cowley.

"Maybe a little bit short on experience but not short on enthusiasm.

"The great thing about being young is you’re fear free. So we expect to play with a youthful enthusiasm.

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"We understand it could be a little bit like climbing a mountain. But we’re going to try to break that down."

Cowley added: "We've got some injury issues, there's no hiding place from that. It's been a real challenge all week as to where we are in terms of fit bodies.

“Sometimes you have these moments and when you have an unbalanced squad and you pick up some contact injuries, the likes of Jaden Brown and Tommy Elphick, where there's not too much you can do about it.

"A snowball effect can be created and you start to use players who aren't quite able to put games together, someone like Alex Pritchard, who we played Saturday and Tuesday and off the back of that he probably felt some fatigue, which you naturally would having not played for a period of time.

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“Fraizer Campbell and Danny Simpson came into that category too on the back of no pre-season but because of where we were with the numbers, we probably had to play them more than they were capable of at this moment.

“That is the position we're in. It's not easy, but it is what it is.

"We called four young players back from loan spells. I apologise to their loan clubs.

"We wouldn't do that if we didn't think it was necessary and that they would play pivotal roles in the coming weeks.

“We see a real opportunity for them."