Bacuna ‘can do great things’

DANNY Cowley opted to use only two substitutes in Huddersfield Town’s goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

The boss sent on Chris Willock for Elias Kachunga with 20 minutes to play, and eight minutes later he replaced striker Steve Mounie with Fraizer Campbell, who missed arguably the chance of the match just moments after taking to the field.

It meant three players who could potentially have pepped things up for the Terriers were left on the bench.

From an attacking point of view, they included Collin Quaner - who was recalled to the matchday squad - and No.10 Alex Pritchard.

“We train the physical all the time, we train the technical and the tactical but you have to make sure you train the psychological as well.”

Cowley added: “We know that if we are mentally strong and physically strong - and we are working hard with the players in that area for them to perform at their best - we will have the best chance of being relentlessly consistent.

“There is definitely more to come from Alex, without a doubt.

“He went on in the Birmingham game and did really well when we were in a good position in the game, he went on at

The also included Juninho Bacuna, who is back in the selection pot following a threematch ban for his sending off at Nottingham Forest.

The 22-year-old featured off the bench against Luton last week but didn’t get a look-in at Hillsborough.

Despite his limited match minutes since that rash challenge at the City ground (26 minutes against Luton), Cowley has genuine faith in the enigmatic Bacuna’s ability.

In fact, he believes the Curacao international could play back at the top if he can discipline that ability to help his team.

Said Cowley: “Juninho is a great kid and our heart is with him. He has the opportunity to achieve great things in football and we are working really, really

Reading and affected things, had a really good shot which was well saved.

“He is a top player, there is absolutely no doubt about that.

“But, like anyone, when you have a lack of rhythm and a stop-start season you need to get a run of games and a consistency in your training - and a consistency in terms of match minutes - to be able to find that rhythm and flow.

“He is that player that needs the rhythm and flow and that’s what we are all working really, really hard with Alex to achieve, and I have to say Alex is driving it, which is good to see.” hard with him to make sure he doesn’t stop himself from doing that.

“The way he trained during the period after lockdown and how he played in the practice matches leading up to the re-start was so exciting, but it hasn’t quite happened for him for one reason or another.

“When you have a disappointment you have two choices, you either let it get the better of you or you keep the frustrations and disappointment close and you use it to drive you on.

“I can tell you, we are really pleased having Juninho back because he is such an important player to us and to the team.”

Bacuna is contract to Town until the end of next season, with the club then having the option to extend by a further 12 months.