Jon Stead issues Lee Nicholls and Lynden Gooch updates after Huddersfield Town's 'wild' Wycombe Wanderers draw
Huddersfield Town plan to assess Lee Nicholls and Lynden Gooch after the pair were forced off in the 3-3 draw with Wycombe Wanderers.
The pair were among Huddersfield’s strongest performers in a pulsating affair at the Accu Stadium, but neither saw the final whistle.
Nicholls had to be replaced by Jak Alnwick between the sticks after a knock to the head before Gooch was withdrawn for Lasse Sorensen.
Jon Stead, one half of Huddersfield’s interim management team, issued updates on both players in his post-match debrief.
Lee Nicholls and Lynden Gooch updates
Regarding Nicholls, he said: “We'll reassess him again. Obviously, I've not spoken to the medical staff yet. He had an issue with his vision and stuff, so again, similar to the George [Sebine] scenario really, you just do not take any chances.
“We get him off the field immediately and he'll be reassessed. He was on the pitch afterwards and seemed okay, but the protocol will be extremely stringent with him because he's had a couple of incidents already prior to this over the last couple of years, so there'll be no corners cut, there'll be no stone unturned.
“That will be a really full protocol. In terms of timescale on that, I don't know, but I don't think it's a quick turnaround.”
Wing-back Gooch, meanwhile, was removed from the field of play due to issues with his calf.
Stead said: “He had a little bit of a tight calf, so again, we'll have to have a look at that and see what that looks like on further assessment. I thought he had a great game as well today.”
Jon Stead’s assessment of ‘wild’ game
Wycombe, led by former Huddersfield boss Michael Duff, took the lead via Nathan Lowe. The hosts managed to turn the game on its head, overturning the deficit with goals from Ryan Ledson and Marcus Harness.
Harness restored the lead after Connor Taylor levelled proceedings but Wycombe equalised again 11 minutes into stoppage time.
Stead said: “It was obviously another wild game, especially towards the end - exciting for people to watch, I'm sure, not to be involved in it. It will be the death of us, I think, at some point.
“[We feel] just frustration and disappointment, but then pride along with it, so it's really difficult to pick the bones out of it and actually understand how I feel this close to the end of the game.
“I thought, again, between both boxes, I thought we were very good with the ball and without it. And then we had moments, lapses of concentration that cost us and concede in, but then probably not ruthless enough in the opposition's box as well, especially first-half.
“How we come off the pitch 1-0 down is a mystery. And then we start the second half exceptionally well. [It was] really, really tough to take. It'll take a bit of dissecting.
“Ledo pops up with another thunder blaster, as he does, and I just felt then that we were just going to go on and win the game.”