Pritchard hails strikers as best he’s played with
HUDDERSFIELD Town midfielder Alex Pritchard believes Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre are two of the best strikers he has ever played with.
The former Norwich City man, who represented England at U20 and U21 level, admitted he has played with some excellent forwards so far in his career, but that Town’s strike force are up there as two of the best.
He said: “I’ve played with some good strikers and they’re up there with the best I’ve played with.”
On Mounie in particular, Pritchard added: “I’ve played with all sorts of strikers and to play with Steve is really good. We know how big and how powerful he is, but he’s not just a big, powerful footballer – he can play with the ball.
“When the ball goes up to him and they are battling in the air I just know he’s going to win flick ons – or I think he’s going to win flick ons.
“And when the ball does go to his feet he is always holding the ball up and I’m always going to be there for him. If he needs me I can run off him and I’ll just try and give him as much support as I can.”
Pritchard, who has both assisted a Mounie goal and been assisted by the Benin international in the Premier League, went on to touch on Belgium international Depoitre.
He said: “I think with both Stevie and Lolo up front, they are both great players and whoever I play with – I played with Lolo at Newcastle and his hold up play and how hard he worked, I think we hit it off there as well.”
Meanwhile Huddersfield Town winger Rajiv van La Parra has explained his celebration following his goal-of-the-season-winning strike against West Bromwich Albion.
The Dutch winger pulled one right out of the top drawer at home to the Baggies, taking two touches outside of Ben Foster’s area before bending a delicious effort into the top corner on the cusp of half time, leaving the West Brom keeper stranded.
Van La Parra – who scored against Albion for a second time in the reverse fixture – wheeled away, putting his hands to his face so all the jubilant Town fans could see was his eyes.
The 26-year-old forward explained that the celebration signified a personal focus on the job at hand – scoring goals for the Terriers and keeping them in the Premier League.
“It was a personal thing for myself,” he said.
“It was to have a focus on one goal and that was to score goals and keep Huddersfield in the Premier League.
“That’s why I did that with my hands – to have one focus on what’s ahead of you and forget what is behind you.”
On Town’s current situation in the top flight, van La Parra added: “It’s three finals we have to play now and hopefully we can get a good result in one of the three games and make sure we are safe and stay in the Premier League.”