Terrier on the Terraces: Clayton rediscovers form

Prior to sitting out three matches as a result of the training ground bust-up with Martin Paterson, his form had been patchy. His influence on games had been waning, and for the first time in his Town career he found himself on the bench at Leicester. This, and the spell out of the team, seems to have been the catalyst for him to rediscover his touch, to the extent that Town were forced to reject a late transfer window bid from Brighton for his services.

Playing in a deeper position, he has been influential. Of late it seems that when Clayton plays well, Town play well. And in recent weeks he has popped up with important goals, winning the match with one long-range effort against Wigan, and sealing the win with another from outside the area against Birmingham. His goals have been a welcome addition to the team amidst James Vaughan’s intermittent appearances through injury.

Vaughan hasn’t been the same since the red card at Leicester. Previously, he had found a rhythm and was playing as well as any Town striker since Marcus Stewart before his sale to Ipswich. Since returning from suspension, however, he has been disrupted by injury and has only netted once. Once fit, he seems to need a run of games to get himself into the groove; the problem is that the fewer games he plays, the more he seems to get injured.

Vaughan is an integral part to this Huddersfield Town side, forming the spearhead in attack. Hopefully he will be properly fit again soon, despite hobbling out of the defeat against Nottingham Forest. The side misses his presence when he isn’t leading the line.