Cucumbers might just do the trick for Brown
IZZY BROWN will be fired by unusual fuel when trying to help Huddersfield reach the Championship play-off final. In an industry awash with superstition, the young forward on loan from Chelsea has a new one.
‘I’ll be eating my cucumbers,’ laughs Brown when asked if he is ready to take on Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg today.
‘Two years ago the Under-23s were playing Bolton. I was in front of Lewis Baker in the line at the canteen and went past the salad. He said, “Eat three pieces of cucumber before the game and you will score a hat-trick”. So I ate them and I did score a hat-trick. Since then I eat three little circles of cucumber before every game.’
Such has been Brown’s form for David Wagner’s unlikely promotion-chasers that, now word is out, local greengrocers may have to restock swiftly.
There is also, of course, another reason for this 20-year-old’s recent success — his natural talent, growing maturity and an attacking role in Wagner’s energetic team that enables him to thrive.
Having been the second youngest debutant in Premier League history for West Bromwich Albion aged 16 years and 117 days, Brown made a £1million move to Chelsea in 2013 and was treated to personal shooting tips by Didier Drogba.
Competing for a place amid a galaxy of stars, Brown has only made a single substitute appearance for Chelsea, and is one of 37 players out on loan from Stamford Bridge.
He faced a difficult spell at Vitesse Arnhem last year, showed promise at Rotherham this season, and arrived at Huddersfield at the right time to provide a mid-season boost. His four Championship goals include the winner at Wolves that confirmed his side’s play-off spot.
Having watched Chelsea’s 2015 League Cup win over Spurs from the stands, Brown is 180 minutes from playing at Wembley for the first time.
‘Everyone said, “It’s a fluke, Huddersfield are going to fall off”, but we haven’t,’ he says, relaxing into a sofa at the club’s Canalside training base. ‘When we are at it I don’t think anybody in the league can beat us.
‘Other teams spend £10m on one player and obviously Huddersfield don’t do that. But we are a team who believe in the manager and give 100 per cent.’
Wagner has been the face of Huddersfield’s rise, his arrival last year triggering an unexpected stretch of results gained through a pressing approach that requires total commitment in training.
‘If we have a game on a Saturday and no midweek game, we recover Sunday, are off Monday, but in Tuesday for a double session,’ explains Brown. ‘We start at 9am, finish about 6pm. Gym session in the morning then go outside and do 18 box-to-boxes. Lots of running. That is hard.
‘In the afternoon we train and it is so sharp. If you’re not right you won’t be playing at the weekend. It shows in our fitness — we have scored a lot of late goals.’
Brown’s frizzy hair and imposing stature is being seen regularly for the first time since he elected to leave West Brom. He might have racked up more senior appearances had he stayed. But there are no regrets.
‘Sometimes you think, “If I had stayed, where would I be now, how many games would I have played?” But you can never guarantee anything.’
Brown does not rule out staying at Huddersfield next season if they go up. ‘All the boys will be here next season, the manager will still be here, hopefully. I am happy. I would love to be here playing in the Prem. Everything is in our hands to make that happen.’