‘Warrior’ Hogg hands Cowley a timely boost
DANNY Cowley describes him as ‘a warrior, a fighter and someone who carries the DNA of the club in his blood.’
And if the evidence of Huddersfield Town’s hour-long training matches against Sheffield United is anything to go by, then the player in question is primed and raring for the Championship resumption against Wigan Athletic at the empty John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday, June 20.
Midfielder Jonathan Hogg hasn’t played since being taken off after 33 minutes of the 2-1 home victory against Bristol City on February 25.
Town’s 31-year-old central enforcer - who is contracted until the end of next season, with the club having the option to add a further year - suffered a knee injury and, knowing he’s not one to be forced off lightly, it was a worrying situation.
It was later revealed it was ligament damage and the man who has made 30 appearances this season in Championship and FA Cup was not fit enough to be included in the matchday 18 for the 4-0 John Smith’s Stadium win over Charlton Athletic or the 2-0 defeat at Leeds United – Town’s final game before the Covid-19 shutdown.
Boss Cowley revealed after the Charlton game his trusted positional No.6 was wearing a brace to support the damaged joint and would be sent for a specialist examination.
The manager said at the time: “He has a ligament injury on the outside of his knee. We were worried initially, but we now know it’s improved a lot in the 10 days since he did it and, hopefully, he won’t be too long.”
The suspension of football following the coronavirus outbreak means Hogg has had time to recover fully from the injury while missing no more matches.
He has been back working with the senior squad at PPG Canalside and highlighted his recovery to Cowley by running more than five miles in his 60 minutes against the Blades on Monday.
Nine kilometres is more than 5.5 miles and suggests Hogg has put the injury firmly behind him and is ready to kick off again at his destructive best in a central midfield slot as Town bid to keep their place in the Championship.
That means strong competition once more for Chelsea loan man Trevoh Chalobah, who started the last two matches against Charlton and Leeds in place of Hogg and replaced him against Bristol City.
It also means Leicester City loanee Andy King has two men to battle with for the starting shirt.
Lewis O’Brien is a shoo-in for the Wigan match, but Cowley now has a decision to make on who partners him in the favoured 4-2-3-1 formation against Wigan - Chalobah, King or Hogg. The Town boss said when Hogg was previously sidelined: “You always miss a player like Hoggy. He is a warrior, a fighter and carries the DNA of the club in his blood.”
The ideal man to have back in the mix then, and Hogg is clearly determined to hit the ground running when the Terriers face the first of nine hurdles to Championship safety.