Forced to sit out the Socceroos’ next World Cup qualifier TOWN’S ON- LOAN STAR RECEIVES YELLOW CARD AND IS ON THE SIDELINES FOR UAE CLASH

HUDDERSFIELD Town star Aaron Mooy will not feature in Australia’s World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates tomorrow.

The Town man was in international action on Thursday, but picked up a yellow card for a high tackle.

The caution was his second of the qualifying campaign, meaning the midfielder will be forced to sit on the sidelines when the Aussies face the UAE in Sydney in a crunch qualifier.

The Socceroos are in desperate need of a win, with their qualifying campaign stalling.

Both Japan and Saudi Arabia are three points ahead of Australia in the table, meaning that Ange Postecoglou’s men must win next week to keep the pressure on the top two.

Mooy’s suspension will be greeted with moans in Australia, but cheers in West Yorkshire.

With the midfield linchpin forced to sit out the next match, it’s likely that he will return to the Terriers fully fit ahead of the Championship run-in.

Joel Lynch admits he is “frustrated” that his former club Huddersfield Town are doing so well without him, but is happy for his friends enjoying the sensational season in West Yorkshire.

The centre-back joined Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee in the summer, and the Hoops are now having to settle for mid-table obscurity while the Terriers fly high in third.

But the 29-year-old is adamant that Rangers could follow in Town’s footsteps in the coming years and push for promotion back to the top flight.

Lynch told GetWestLondon: “It’s difficult for me as I left last summer. I didn’t leave on bad terms and enjoyed my time there and have got great friends there. I had no quarrels with anyone.

“It’s good to see them doing well. It’s a bit frustrating when I could have been there myself. When I was at Huddersfield I wished and dreamed of being at QPR.

“I see QPR being in the Premier League while I’m at the club. I can see us pushing on and doing what Huddersfield and Leeds have done.

“I’m delighted for my friends and hope they get what they deserve.”

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton admits he has concerns over his side’s away form ahead of the Championship run in.

Brighton have lost five of their last eight on the road, beating just Rotherham and Barnsley over that spell.

And with four away matches left to play this season, Hughton knows his side will have to change that form if they are to hold off third-placed Huddersfield Town for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

When asked if Brighton’s form away from the Amex Stadium is a concern, Hughton told the Argus: “It is.

“I thought we were very good at Rotherham.

“I didn’t think we were bad at Leeds. I thought we were poor at Nottingham Forest.

“But yes, in this series of games we’ve got, QPR won’t be easy. Certainly Aston Villa and Norwich won’t be easy - or Wolves, who are in form at the moment.

“None of them are easy away games, but we will certainly have to win away from home in the games we’ve got and the other teams are going to keep pushing.”

Huddersfield Town are in a three-horse race for automatic promotion, according to Sky Sports anchor Scott Minto.

Newcastle United lead the league with Brighton & Hove Albion a point behind.

Town are six points behind the Seagulls, but have a game in hand - against Wolves and Minto thinks the Terriers are the last side in the hunt for a top-two spot.

Leeds United are eight points behind Brighton with eight matches still to play, but the former Charlton, Chelsea and Rotherham man believes the Whites have left their promotion push too late.

“Norwich fell away and Huddersfield jumped into the gap but it’s still a threehorse race in my opinion,” he said.

“But I think that Leeds United have left it too late. It’s going to be fascinating when the international break finishes and we get the last eight games because I think there’ll be a few twists and turns along the way.

“Newcastle’s home form makes the next two a bit more interesting, but it will be a major surprise if they don’t take six points from Wigan and Burton.

“My next game at St James’ Park is the Preston home game and I think that’s going to be an interesting one. They’re playing very well and they’re not out of the promotion mix yet. All of the top eight is uncertain.

“But Newcastle should go up and Brighton will too.”