Missing defensive duo is ‘no big deal’ for Terriers chief

DAVID Wagner was keeping cards close to his chest when asked about the Terriers’ line-up and gameplan at Wolves.

The head coach is forced into changes at Molineux – where Town have lost just once in the last 30 years – because in-form left-back Chris Lowe is injured and Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen suspended.

Wagner has operated successfully with a back five as Town picked up four points from the home games with Fulham and West Ham United.

Asked if Zanka’s one-match ban would open he door for Jon Gorenc Stankovic to play only his third game of the season, and first since the Carabao Cup defeat at Stoke City in August, Wagner pointed to his options.

“It could open the door for Jon Stankovic, it could open the door for a four back line or it could be that we stick to the formation that we played in the past,” said the boss, who took his players and their families away to a Marbella training camp during the international break.

“We will see what is the best to do for us in the case of playing Wolverhampton Wanderers.”

Pressed on how Town would cope against Wolves without two of their best defenders, Wagner added: “This is not a problem, it is only something where we have to decide how we will deal with the situation.

“We have two players who have played a lot of games in recent weeks and we have to find out who will replace them.

“This is something every manager has to deal with every weekend, so it’s nothing I really worry about – I have a lot of alternatives.

“I have more or less a full squad back in training and this means we will have alternatives.”

So how much of a blow is it losing the duo for such a testing trip?

“The suspension of Zanka, we saw it coming because he was on four yellows for weeks,” said Wagner.

“Chris Lowe’s injury wasn’t something we expected but we are very happy it’s not as serious as we first thought. It was thought after the game it could be 12 weeks or more that he is out and might need surgery, so I think we are very happy with the actual results and the time frame he will be out.

“He was in great form over the whole season, a very consistent, reliable player offensively and defensively, but now it is time for somebody else to fill this gap - and I am pretty confident we have the alternatives in our squad.

“Zanka was also in very good form, a regular, but now we have to be creative and find a solution because he is out.

“This is nothing big to deal with, we have to do it all the time.”