Hometown glory for feisty Fraizer
Cowley ponders loan for Town’s no 3
BORN and raised in Huddersfield, Frazier Campbell is living the dream of most football fans having scored in front of a packed stadium for his hometown club.
On Saturday, Campbell placed the ball beyond the reach of Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski to open his goal-scoring account for Huddersfield Town.
Whilst the goal proved decisive, it was Campbell’s attitude and application that has seen the fans warm to him almost immediately.
Campbell showed real character in a game of enormous magnitude, and his well-taken goal was the very least that he deserved.
Despite being outnumbered and dwarfed by his direct physical opposition, Campbell led with a never-say-die attitude.
Considering the predicament Town find themselves in, it’s those types of performance that will make all the difference.
Danny Cowley was full of praise for Campbell, and will be hoping to HUDDERSFIELD Town boss Danny Cowley has confirmed one player he will eventually look to loan out.
Liverpool loan man Kamil Grabara has taken the gloves in every league game so far, while Ryan Schofield has been on the bench and started in the Carabao Cup against Cowley’s Lincoln City back in August.
It has meant Joel Coleman (pictured) - who played in the final Premier League game of the season at Southampton - has had to be capture that attitude and replicate it throughout the side in the coming weeks and months.
In a second half that could only be described as a war of attrition in which grit, determination and a willingness to battle was the minimum requirement, nobody epitomised that combative spirit better than Campbell himself.
The hope now is that Campbell can find that consistency where he can lead the line with the same impetus, effectiveness and drive.
Choruses of ‘he’s one of our own’ rang around the John Smith stadium for Campbell after another patient and wait for another chance to make the matchday 18.
Asked about Coleman and the goalkeeping situation, Cowley said: “Joel’s attitude and application has been exceptional, he is a really good guy who trains really, really hard and is fighting hard.
“If you look at the three keepers we have good competition now.
“Ryan is someone we know well, lung-busting recovery run resulted in a crunching tackle to prevent Millwall from mounting an attack.
Rotating with Karlan Grant as part of a fluid front three, it was one of several occasions in which he pressed in advanced positions and ran the channels sacrificially for the sake of the side. He led from the front and led by example.
While Campbell’s illustrious career had yet to include playing in the blue and white stripes until this season, there is a sense that is he is able to comprehend better than most the significance of playing for this football club on a much deeper, more emotional level.
For the fans who feel disenfranchised and disconnected from this football club after a tumultuous eight-month period, Campbell offered those and everyone a timely reminder of what it means to play for Town.
Fuelled by passion and pride and with his heart on his sleeve, he put in a performance that everyone affiliated with this football club could be proud of. having watched a lot of Notts County during his loan spell at the back end of last season. I think Ryan has a real chance (in the game).
“We also think he probably needs another stepping stone somewhere along the line, to get some more first-team experience - so that is something we will consider moving forward. “At the same time, at this level, to have three goalkeepers is quite important.”