Huddersfield Town: Vaughan steps up comeback

The injury-hit Town attacker has been on the first-team sidelines since limping off in the first half of Chris Powell’s first game in charge in the 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at the John Smith’s Stadium on September 13.

Powell has seen Vaughan in league action for just 26 minutes, with the 26-year-old having featured just four times for Huddersfield this term, making just two starts.

The former Everton and Norwich frontman saw his 2013-14 campaign also disrupted by injury, with his final appearance last term coming in the 2-2 home draw with Boro on March 25.

Vaughan, who signed a permanent three-year deal with Town in the summer of 2013, had enjoyed an outstanding first few months of last season and had managed 11 goals by the start of October.

But he only managed to find the net once more for the rest of the season, with his last goal in Town colours coming just over a year ago in the 2-1 home win over Burnley on November 30, 2013.

With loan striker Grant Holt due to return to Wigan after the home game with Bolton Wanderers on December 28, any return to full fitness for Vaughan would likely to be timely for Town.

But Powell has consistently stressed he will only throw Vaughan and other players who have been on the sidelines for extended spells back into the fray when the time is right for them and won’t jeopardise their long-term fitness.

Joe Lolley, Duane Holmes and Daniel Carr netted in the 3-1 win over the Owls, which saw Vaughan feature for a pre-planned 45 minutes before being withdrawn at the interval.