Huddersfield boss hails Roberts return as Moore laments defending

The 26-year-old returned to first-team action as a second-half substitute after missing the last six weeks with a broken arm.

Town progressed to the Northern Area semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a comfortable 5-2 win over their Yorkshire rivals and Clark said: "It was great to have Gary back, that was a massive boost Tuesday morning when the specialist said if Gary felt comfortable and we were all right with it that he was more than happy for Gary to be involved.

"It was a boost for him and a boost for us all.

"His enthusiasm has been brilliant, we know it's been difficult, he doesn't have many injuries if any, so he doesn't miss much football and this has been a tough period.

"It's going to take a while, he's not running freely with the arm, but that will come with time, it's a massive boost to have someone of his ability available to us."

Clark also described his side's attacking as 'exceptional' while opposite number Ronnie Moore was left to rue the League Two side's defending.

"The defending is so poor it's untrue," said the Millers manager, whose side are without a win in five games. "We're conceding far too many goals, so we have to put it right, and the way you do that is by working hard.

"We need to get back to the basics with defending; getting the right shape. So we'll be in Thursday morning and afternoon, and Friday to get it right for the Oxford game (Saturday).

"We went through a similar situation last season but we went back to basics and got it right for the Aldershot (play-off) games and we'll do so again."

Moore is also heading back into the loan market for a right-back with Johnny Mullins a doubt for Saturday after limping off midway through the first half against Town and Dale Tonge still three weeks away from a return.

Moore, who also has concerns over Nick Fenton (calf strain), said: "We are a little bit short in the right-back spot and we'll have to do something about that before Oxford.

"We've got our list of players so it's just a matter of phoning clubs and seeing who we can get.

"It's not like you're looking for a striker who'll get you 30 goals, they're hard to find. A right-back shouldn't be that difficult for us."

Top goalscorer Adam le Fondre missed Tuesday's game with a virus but is expected to return against Oxford.