Huddersfield Town head coach Carlos Corberan has no issue with staggered return of fans

Clubs in areas which have been placed into Tier Two will be allowed up to 2,000 spectators back in line with the Government's new tier system regulations following the end of the second national coronavirus lockdown on December 2.

Most English clubs remain in Tier Three areas and must continue to play games behind closed doors, with the tiers to be reviewed every fortnight.

Like the majority of Championship clubs, Huddersfield find themselves currently under Tier Three restrictions.

But nine clubs - Bournemouth, Brentford, Luton Town, Millwall, Norwich City, QPR, Reading, Watford and Wycombe Wanderers - will be allowed a small percentage of fans at games due to their area's presence in Tier Two.

On the first steps regarding the return of fans, Corberan - yet to manage a game in front of Town supporters said: "I think this is a very positive step for the football world to start recovering the fans in our stadium.

"It is something that makes us very happy as it shows the situation is improving.

"You want the fans at your back supporting the team and it is a very positive thing for the world as it means the situation is a little bit better and we can start making fans close to us."

On Town having to wait a little longer for their own supporters to return to the John Smith's Stadium, he continued: "I think this is one rule that the Government needed to make and my feeling is that I want our fans to be safe.

"It is clear we want to have our fans with us, but at the same time, we want them in safe conditions and we don't want them to suffer any negative consequences.

"I hope the rules are safe for everyone."

Corberan has confirmed that Chris Schindler will miss tomorrow's game with Middlesbrough, due to the protocol regarding head injuries after coming off in the midweek draw at Wycombe.

The Spaniard said: "Schindler is following the regulations and they say from the medical point of view that after concussion, you need to rest for six days if you don't have any types of headaches.

"His progression of adaptation has been very positive. But now for the six days, he must follow medical advice."

Ben Hamer could be back in contention for the game with Boro alongside fellow goalkeepers Ryan Schofield and Joel Pereira.

Schofield, who kept a clean sheet in the draw at Wycombe, played against Boro in his league debut at the John Smith's Stadium last season and also recorded a shut-out in a 0-0 draw with the Teessiders last autumn.

On Hamer, Corberan said: "He has been training at home and working on his fitness conditions which you specifically do as a keeper and tomorrow (Saturday) in the morning, he can maybe do some work.

"Depending on how he is feeling, he could be available. At the same time, we are calm as we have two keepers who have been involved in the previous games.

Pipa and Alex Pritchard are not involved and in the 'last part of their recovery', according to Corberan.

Leon Wobschall