Huddersfield Town v Bournemouth: Afobe targets Old Trafford return to help lift Terriers

Tonight, however, that near 40-year wait for a return to the self-styled ‘Theatre of Dreams’ may well come to an end as Town host Bournemouth in a delicately-poised League One play-off semi-final.

The prize at stake is a trip to the home of Manchester United for the May 29 final and a shot at clinching a place in next season’s Championship.

It is an enticing prospect, not least for the vast majority of the Town squad who have never played at Old Trafford.

Among the few who have, of course, are Kevin Kilbane, Danny Cadamarteri and Ian Bennett. If Town can get past Bournemouth, no doubt this experienced trio will spend much of the next week or so fielding questions from team-mates as to what it really is like to run out at a 75,000 capacity stadium.

What many may not realise, however, is that the youngest member of the squad has also appeared at Old Trafford. And for a team that included at least one player destined to become a full England international.

“I played there for Arsenal when I was 13,” explains Benik Afobe, the teenage striker who has spent the past six months on loan at the Galpharm Stadium.

“It was for Arsenal Under-16s in the Nike Cup, which was effectively a World Championships.

“Manchester United were in the tournament along with Inter Milan, Paris St Germain, Juventus and a few others.

“I was only tiny back then and still very young but I played in an Arsenal team that included Jack Wilshere.

“We also had (former Doncaster Rovers loanee) Jay Emanuel-Thomas and (former Leeds United loanee) Sanchez Watt, so it was a good team.

“The standard was good but we got through to the final, where we played a Mexican team called Chivas. They are Javier Hernandez’s old club.

“Chivas had quite a good few players and there was a decent crowd, probably 10-15,000 – which for an Under-16s tournament is pretty good.

“I was only 13 so didn’t really take it all in but it was still a great experience, even though we lost the final 2-1. It would be great if I could go back there with Huddersfield Town.”

Afobe, who arrived in West Yorkshire on an initial month’s loan last November without a Football League appearance to his name, has been one of the discoveries of the season.

After making his debut in a 2-0 derby win at Sheffield Wednesday, his first goals came a week later as Town made light work of Rotherham United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Niggling injury plus the need to return to Arsenal to play in the FA Youth Cup meant he was then in an out of the side for the next couple of months.

All that changed shortly after his 18th birthday, however, when Clark handed the striker a starting role that he went on to retain for much of the final three months of the season.

Away from the Galpharm, Afobe’s role has been particularly critical with the youngster being at the head of the 4-5-1 formation that the Town manager prefers on the road.

The teenager said: “I have really enjoyed the last six months, it has been a lot better than I expected. I didn’t think I would play this many games.

In the first couple of months, I went back to Arsenal for Youth Cup games and also had an injury.

“But since we got knocked out, I have been here all the time and that has meant me enjoying it a lot more.

“I also feel to have grown up a lot. At home, my mum did everything but now I live in a house at the other end of the country. I have to cook, be disciplined in not going out and so on. Being here all the time has allowed me to put some roots down and also bond with my team-mates, not just on the pitch but off it as well.

“The manager has shown a lot of faith in me and I want to thank him for that.

“Hopefully, I can keep repaying him by scoring a few more goals.”

Ahead of tonight’s second leg against the Cherries, Afobe added: “We were happy with a draw to bring back to Huddersfield.

“They could sit back and wait for penalties, which are a lottery. But what we have to tell ourselves is that with two more wins we are in the Championship next season and really go for the win.

“I have really enjoyed it at Huddersfield but I I still hope the highlight is to come – winning promotion at Old Trafford.”

Last six games: Huddersfield Town WWWWDD, Bournemouth WDWDLD.

Referee: N Swarbrick.

Last time: Huddersfield Town 2 Bournemouth 2; September 4, 2010; League One.