Newcastle take priority over Cup replay, says Huddersfield Town's Michael Hefele

The defender further cemented his cult hero status among Town supporters after powering home his fifth goal of the season to put the visitors in front in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley.

Promotion-chasing Town change tack to FA Cup business in midweek as they aim to book a place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1972.

But Hefele is adamant that their crunch home game against Newcastle United on Saturday assumes far more importance.

On where Town’s priorities lie, Hefele said: “That is easy, the most important are the Championship games. They are the most important, all of the time.

“The secret now is to perform, perform and perform. That is the Huddersfield way and our unbeaten run goes on and it is a good feeling to have that.”

Hefele’s thumping header took his tally of goals for Town in 2017 to four, with the centre-back having particular cause to savour derby occasions at the minute after his dramatic late intervention against Leeds United earlier this month.

He added: “I do like Yorkshire derbies. I am used to it now and I like the emotion and with a big (away) crowd like that all backing you, it is lovely, I like it so much.”

Regarding his goal, he added: “We try it in training and it was a perfect corner and the runs in the box were ideal. I am very happy about my goal and header.”