HUDDLESTONE SET FOR POSH BATTLE

GRANT Mccann hopes to have Tom Huddlestone available for tonight’s crunch Championship meeting with Peterborough United.

Two of the division’s struggling sides meet at the MKM Stadium on the back of 2-0 away defeats for the newly promoted pair at the weekend.

Huddlestone has been out of action since the 0-0 draw at Swansea on September 11, and it was expected the former Derby midfielder would return for the trip to Huddersfield.

Despite suggesting the 34-year-old would join George Honeyman in returning, Mccann opted to leave Huddlestone to take part in another training session at Cottingham, along with Matt Smith, Randell Williams and Ryan Longman.

City’s most experienced professional is pushing to be involved against Posh and then again when Mccann’s men go in search of a rare away win at Luton three days’ later.

“He’s only had four training sessions, he’s had another one (on Saturday). So he got another good session into him and hopefully he’ll be better for it come Wednesday,” said Mccann.

Eyebrows were raised at Mccann’s team selection on Saturday, recalling both Callum Elder and Lewie Coyle, with Josh Emmanuel among those dropped from the side which beat Middlesbrough.

Emmanuel’s omission in particular was not well received by supporters, but Mccann says the competition for places is fierce now players are starting to return - just Alfie Jones and Brandon Fleming remain sidelined.

“Look, I’ve got big decisions all the time now, I mentioned this during the week,” he said. “There’s 20 outfield players fit and available there’s four we left behind to train (on Saturday) as they’re a little bit behind in certain aspects of where we want them.

“They are big decisions every week. If I play Josh Emmanuel people will ask me why I haven’t played Lewie, that’s my job. We try and pick a team that we think is going to hurt the opposition on the day and for the way we want to play the game.

“Randell’s just come back from an injury and is getting up to speed, and it was a decision (on the day) whether to leave Josh Magennis or Ryan Longman behind and that was the reason.

“I’ve got to make sure I pick the freshest team that’s ready to go run, fight and scrap for us,” Mccann added, as his side go in search of a second successive home win.