Clarke wary of threat of ex-Terrier Rhodes

Rhodes moved to Blackburn Rovers for £8m last in 2012 and in both games against Town last season he netted.

Today marks his 50th league start for Blackburn and in his first 49 games he has scored 33 goals. He is currently in a rich seam of form having bagged six goals his last four games for Rovers, including a double against Barnsley.

Clarke is determined the Terriers will try to shackle the prolific striker today.

“We know him very well and he is a top, top goalscorer,” said Clarke.

“Whoever is selected at the weekend will have to be at the top of their game to keep him quiet.”

Town can cap off a good week in the Championship, after picking up a win and draw against Charlton and Doncaster Rovers respectively.

“Four points from two games is a good return, but we perhaps could have had a couple more,” said Clarke. “We are still unbeaten at home, though, and I thought we played very well on Tuesday night.

“Our performance against Doncaster wasn’t fantastic, but teams will come to the John Smith’s Stadium and try and frustrate us.

“Teams have taken note of how we want to play football and are setting up to primarily make it tough for us.

“We need to work hard on the training ground to make us better equipped at breaking teams down.

“Winning is a habit and we want to continue the good form that we have produced during the opening months of the season. When you win close games it gives you an extra feeling of a job well done.”

Town’s use of wing-backs has been welcomed by Clarke, but he admits they are still “a work in progress”.

“The manager wants the defenders to get on the ball and create space. It allows the wing-backs to get higher up the pitch and has given the defenders and midfielders more time on the ball.

“It is still a work in progress, though, but we have moved the ball well.”