Video: Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town - Hefele happy to put himself on the spot again

His miss meant the initiative in the world’s richest game, the Championship play-off final, had swung Reading’s way, a point underlined when Liam Kelly converted the next spot-kick to leave Town trailing 3-1 with Nahki Wells next up for the Yorkshire club.

A place in the Premier League appeared to be slipping away.

Just five penalties later, however, and Hefele’s misery had given away to undiluted joy as promotion was sealed in the most dramatic of fashions. Four months on and as Town tonight look to take a step towards a possible Wembley return, the 27-year-old is adamant that the painful memory of that miss will not prevent him from stepping up again if a shoot-out is required at Crystal Palace.

“That day was unbelievable,” he said when asked by The Yorkshire Post to take a stroll down memory lane towards May 29, 2017. “It was the biggest game of my life with the most emotion.

“Sometimes I watch the pictures of the game and it is unbelievable. The final caused me every emotion.

“I had a very good game, but I was at the end of my power towards the end because I had given all my energy. I had cramp because of this. I just wanted to get us promoted, I did not want to finish second. No one remembers who finishes second.

“I was full of confidence for the penalty, but I did not have enough power left and missed. It was a bad moment.”

If tonight’s League Cup tie cannot be settled over 120 minutes, he will still put his hand up to take a penalty.

“Of course. No problem,” he said when asked about the possibility.

Hefele’s time on the pitch in the Premier League amounts to just a couple of minutes, the German having been brought off the bench during stoppage-time at the end of the 1-0 win over Newcastle United.

The League Cup, therefore, is a big chance to impress for the man who Town fans took to their hearts last season.

Hefele added: “For the boys not playing at the moment, this game against Crystal Palace is a good opportunity. We can impress the manager and show how good we are, as Laurent (Depoitre) did (by scoring against Leicester City on Saturday).

“My problem was I had an injury in the summer. The team has been doing well and I am happy when the team is winning.”

The paths of head coach David Wagner and Palace counterpart Roy Hodgson have crossed before, in the 1997 UEFA Cup final. Town’s head coach was on the bench as Schalke beat Hodgson’s Inter Milan on penalties after two legs, though he admits: “I am not sure he will know I was on the bench. I was too small, I was no name he would recognise.”

This may have been the case 20 years ago, but Wagner’s success with Huddersfield means everyone knows all about him. Steering Town into the fourth round for only the second time since 1983 would only add to the German’s stellar reputation.

“We want to win,” said the 45-year-old, who is without Collin Quaner (calf) and record signing Steve Mounie (heel) through injury. “I want further games in this competition.”

Last six games: Crystal Palace LLWLLL Huddersfield Town WWWDLD.

Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).

Last time: Crystal Palace 0 Huddersfield Town 3; August 12, 2017; Premier League.