Striker ready to make Terriers injury return
HUDDERSFIELD Town striker Rhys Healey is now an “option for the squad” following his extended spell on the sidelines through injury.
The forward has missed the last eight matches with a groin setback, but could make his return against Coventry City this afternoon.
The January recruit started matches against Blackburn Rovers, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday after joining from Watford, but sustained the injury in the latter fixture that has kept him out for close to two months.
“He is also an option for the squad, because he’s highly motivated, he waited a long time to train with the team,” head coach Andre Breitenreiter said at this week’s press conference.
“We started with him as a neutral in training sessions without contact with the opponent, and he took the next step last week in a little tournament, and this week he made all the things with the team.
“He’s not ready for 90 minutes, it must be clear, but it’s possible to play a minimum of 30 or 20 minutes, and then maybe we can use his experience, because we all know that he scored a lot of goals in the past and he’s absolutely a good option for the next games.”
Bojan Radulovic is also back available after missing the last two matches against West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United with a back problem, but Tom Lees has been ruled out of Town’s upcoming games with a calf injury following his absence from the latter fixture.
“Bojan is with the team in normal training sessions, he trained all the sessions in the last two weeks,” Breitenreiter said.
“Tom Lees I forgot, an important player, he is injured and out for some weeks. He is without pain at this moment, and then we have to take the next steps to see when it is possible to train again with the team.”
Brodie Spencer and Radinio Balker are also in contention following their international call-ups with Northern Ireland and Suriname respectively, but Pat Jones has been ruled out of this afternoon’s clash after featuring for Wales under-21s over the break.
“Brodie, he arrived yesterday (Tuesday) evening. He played two times over 90 minutes. He played well, and he was really happy to win, especially the game against Scotland,” Breitenreiter said.
“He’s healthy, and also Radinio, he spent the first time with his national team. He arrived on Sunday, he is healthy also.
“I don’t know about Pat Jones, because he arrived this afternoon (Wednesday), and he is not an option for [Friday] because he didn’t join one training session, but we hope maybe on Monday.
“I don’t know if he is also healthy, but all the other guys, they’re in good shape I think.”