Huddersfield Town will continue to balance the short- and long-term as they try to manage bodies though a hectic schedule, but Lee Grant insists the League One club's sports scientists "want to work with, not against" him.

The Terriers manager spoke to The Yorkshire Post before Enzo Maresca's Chelsea departure, but his words have taken on added resonance since.

Being told he could not select certain players on fitness grounds was said to be a bone of contention before Chelsea parted ways with their coach on New Year's Day, but Grant insists he will have the final say on who plays for the Terriers at home to Exeter City on Sunday.

Not that he plans to be reckless with defenders Joe Low and Josh Feeney in the fourth of seven games in 22 days.

"It's always my decision," stressed Grant. "We've got people that want to work with you, not against you. It's not me versus sports science.

"We always make the right call for each individual but we have to take into account what's right for the team and the club. Sometimes it's squeezing a little bit more out of somebody and sometimes what's right for the football club is protecting this player and making sure he's available for the long term.

"What we want is a fit group and a group ready to step in. That's what we work hard for every day."

Low missed the 1-1 draw at Lincoln City with muscle tightness, and is likely to sit out against the Grecians too.

DUTY OF CARE: Huddersfield Town manager Lee Grant (right) with Aston Villa loanee Josh Feeney (Image: Nick Potts/Press Association)

placeholder image — DUTY OF CARE: Huddersfield Town manager Lee Grant (right) with Aston Villa loanee Josh Feeney (Image: Nick Potts/Press Association)

"Joe Low's probably going to be missing," he confirmed. "We made the call at half-time (at home to Northampton Town).

"Joe was telling me he was absolutely fine and could carry on but the reality is that sort of twinge, tweak or fatigue he was feeling is probably going to put paid to the next couple (of games).

"We had to shift things around (at Lincoln) and I thought we did that well."

Loanee Feeney went back to Aston Villa for treatment on a groin injury picked up at Northampton on December 9 but is in consideration for Sunday's 3pm kick-off.

"He will probably be pushing for Exeter,” said Grant.

"We've got to be mindful of not pushing players out there for one game when we know we've got 20-odd games ahead of us."