Cup is not a

THE January transfer window is open and the opportunity arises for further reinforcements.

I said before the start of the season that Huddersfield Town’s great chance to stay in the Premier League resulted from the fact the system wouldn’t change.

David Wagner was always going to play the way he has since he arrived at the club, the only difference being that betterquality players would slowly be drafted in to create the competition for places that will ultimately earn Town more points.

All research and statistics show that player salary levels equal points. It’s the cold, hard fact of the modern game.

But at least with Town now on 24 points and with a serious chance of becoming Premier League regulars. chairman Dean Hoyle and his board can have confidence to allow the head coach to bring in some new faces.

They may not be household names, of course, but let’s be honest, who had heard of many of the current Town regulars before Wagner introduced them to the club?

He has made an encouraging start to the window already, by bringing in Dutch international Terence Kongolo on loan from AS Monaco for the rest of the season.

With the very specific way that Wagner plays, it’s not for just anyone to turn up and slot in.

Players have to learn the team set-up, formation and what the various responsibilities are, and the key thing which caught my eye from the Kongolo signing is that Wagner has identified him as a player who will suit the system.

That’s excellent work and, if anyone is ready to slot straight into the team at Bolton this weekend then it’s Terence Kongolo.

Talking of the FA Cup tie, it’s a competition the fans just love but I wouldn’t be surprised to see wholesale changes from Town, with the opportunity to rest Aaron Mooy, Christopher Schindler, Jonas Lossl and the other regulars.

Punters will therefore be looking at Bolton, if they allowed to play all their loan players, as a reasonable chance, especially as Phil Parkinson has them in good form (three wins out of four).

But Cup competitions of any sort are no longer Town’s priority, so please don’t be moaning if the club are one of those knocked out come Saturday night.

It showed in the Leicester game how difficult it is to maintain the high intensity needed at top level when you are playing