FRIENDS NOW FOES

THREE FORMER PLAYERS OUT TO SCUPPER TOWN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SURVIVAL HOPES

HUDDERSFIELD Town have three points as their top priority when they return to Championship action against Wigan Athletic at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.

Danny Cowley’s side are a point and two places ahead of the visitors as they re-start the season with nine matches to go.

Just three points above the drop zone, it’s important Town hit the ground running in front of the empty stands, but opponents Wigan have designs on exactly the same scenario.

Paul Cook’s side have three wins and three draws from their last six league outings and have hauled themselves out of the bottom three on the back of that impressive sequence – which included a victory against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Manager Cook – like Town and other rivals in the bottom half of the table - has been able to use the Covid-19 lay-off to get some key players fit again.

One of those is former Town Player of the Year Gary Roberts, who suffered a hamstring injury in their last outing against Luton Town on March 7.

Now 36, Roberts will be keen to add to his eight appearances so far at a venue where he played for four years, was a play-off promotion winner against Sheffield United at Wembley in 2012 and where he won the top player accolade from fans in 2009.

Another former Town player looking to spark this weekend will be 32-year-old Anthony Pilkington.

His opportunities at the DW this term have also been limited to just 14 appearances, but he’ll be eager to finish the season well as his contract like that of fellow left winger Roberts - expires in the summer.

Pilkington was a popular performer in Town colours, making 107 appearances and earning a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year in 2010-11.

There is a third Wigan player who was around at the John Smith’s Stadium at the same time as Pilkington and

Roberts, although he was on loan from Nottingham Forest at the time.

He is striker Joe Garner, the 32-year-old who has made 23 appearances this term, scoring twice.

Garner - who made 20 appearances in his half season with Town - is also out of contract at the end of this season and has every incentive to perform well in the final nine matches.