Ince is having a creative impact

TOM INCE may still be looking for his first Premier League goal for Huddersfield Town but the attacking midfielder is crucial to David Wagner’s side in terms of chances created.

Despite the 25-year-old (above) attempting 32 shots without scoring so far this campaign, more than any other player, the forward tops the charts for being Town’s most creative outlet.

The player figures in every single Huddersfield Town attacking duo, pointing to his importance as a key player for David Wagner’s men when it comes to creating goalscoring chances during games.

The latest research from BetStars sees the player and Aaron Mooy as Huddersfield’s most productive, averaging 0.75 chances created per 90 minutes together, followed by Ince and Rajiv van La Parra with an average of 0.60 chances created.

Ince and Tommy Smith are the Terrier’s third most productive partnership, averaging 0.48 chances created per 90 minutes with the player’s partnerships with Laurent Depoitre (0.46) and Elias Kachunga (0.41) rounding off the top five.

Throughout the rest of the Premier League, Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero top the charts, amassing an incredible 1.68 chances per 90 minutes together, followed by Liverpool duo Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho in second (1.63).

At the other end of the spectrum, Swansea City’s best duo of Tammy Abraham and Tom Carroll are bottom with 0.52 chances created per 90 minutes together. ■■Brighton manager Chris Hughton has accepted an apology from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after initially not shaking hands following the Reds’ 5-1 Premier League victory at the Amex Stadium.

It was the first time the Seagulls had been on the end of a heavy defeat following what has generally been a determined return to top-flight action after an absence of some 34 years.

With emotions running high on both sides, Klopp appeared to briefly snub the Brighton manager as he was approached for a handshake following the final whistle, which led to a heated response from Hughton.

Klopp, though, has subsequently moved to clear up the “misunderstanding”, which he said occurred because “(Liverpool forward) Mo Salah passed my way and I gave him a hug”.

Hughton was asked for his take on the issue when speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match at Huddersfield, and the Brighton boss also looked to draw a line under the matter.

“Credit to Jurgen, he came looking for me afterwards, I was doing the press at the time. I’ve heard his comments and I very much believe his comments,” Hughton said. DAVID Wagner is keen to maintain – and bolster if possible – the buffer zone between Huddersfield Town and the bottom three.

The head coach rightly points out that while Town have lost their last four Premier League matches, the five-point gap to the drop zone hasn’t changed.

He is keen to put more breathing space between his side and those at the bottom, however, and has a two-pronged approach to help do that.

“Last season in the Championship we always wanted to avoid dropping out of the playoff positions and now, playing in the Premier League, everybody likes to avoid coming to the relegation zone,” he said.

“The reality is we have to fix is our away form and our away record so far, and the thing we have to stabilise is our home record - this is what we are working on.

“Now we have two home games, and this means we are working on our home record.

“It has been said about this busy Christmas period, we have some very interesting, exciting home games against opponents who are not in the top six.

“This looks like a chance, yes it does, but this is so far away I am not focused or concentrating on it.

“We are only focused on Brighton, this home game, and a good performance - this is the first thing we have to deliver.

“Then a successful result will help us for everything that follows, for sure.

“And this is why it’s important for us to be focused only on Saturday.”

Brighton have reported no fresh injury problems ahead of the trip to the John Smith’s Stadium.

On-loan Chelsea midfielder Izzy Brown, who last season helped the Terriers win promotion to the Premier League, will be hoping to retain his place having been drafted into the Seagulls’ starting XI for last weekend’s 5-1 home defeat to Liverpool.

Midfielder Steve Sidwell remains sidelined by a back problem, but the 34-year-old is stepping up his rehabilitation regime.