Huddersfield Town v Charlton Athletic: Young Gunners are lighting up the Terriers

Having finally seen his first-choice front four in action, manager Danny Cowley is hoping he can roll out Fraizer Campbell, Karlan Grant, Emile Smith Rowe and Chris Willock again at home to Charlton Athletic this afternoon.

Smith Rowe, on loan from the Gunners, has hit the ground so impressively he is already being talked about as Mesut Ozil’s successor. Willock, who made his debut for the club as a 16-year-old, had to leave to kick-start his career but his Arsenal education paid dividends on Tuesday’s goalscoring full Huddersfield debut.

“The gaffer said to me, KG, Fraiz and Emile we had a licence to do what we want and I think the whole team had confidence,” revealed winger Willock. “Especially in attacking areas, we did really well and really benefited from that.

“Emile’s two years younger than me but we did play together in the Under-23s and he started to train with us a bit so I know him really well. I know how he plays and he knows how I play. We learnt the game together so it’s really good playing with him.

“Emile’s highly technical and his head’s always up even when he’s driving at pace so I know I can make a run and he’ll find me.

“He took the ball really well (in the lead-up to Willock’s goal against the Robins) and I just kept running. I knew he was going to find me as soon as he got the ball and I took a touch inside and went for it. I was really buzzing when it went in.”

Like his other brother Matty, now at Gillingham, Chris had to leave north London to make his way. He joined Benfica but a loan at West Bromwich Albion in the first half of the campaign did not yield any senior appearances and left him with a point to prove.

“Hopefully, I’ve shown I’m capable of playing in this division,” he said.

“It’s been a difficult six months without playing at West Brom but I always knew my chance was going to come.

“The gaffer just said to me at the start (on Tuesday) to get through it and leave it all out there. I was a bit tired before I came off but I just tried to give it my all and that’s just money in the bank for me to get my fitness up.

“Proving we can play at this level is our goal. We’re giving it our all in training and when we get the opportunity so, hopefully, we can keep growing like this and keep improving and showing what we can do.”

Danny Simpson, a product of Manchester United’s academy, has been impressed by the personalities as well as the performances of his new team-mates.

“They are two fantastic players,” he says. “Chris was disappointed after Derby that he didn’t score but I just told him to keep going and he would get a goal.

“It’s nice to have Emile in our side. He’s a very good young player, bubbly and a top, top lad. He works hard and has the ability to match that.”

The challenge for Huddersfield and in particular their youngsters is to back up Tuesday’s victory, which was far more impressive than the 2-1 scoreline suggested. For Willock especially, it is a physical challenge.

“We’ll have to see how he recovers before we decide if he’ll feature (today) but we’re hoping he does because he’ll certainly have a spring in his step,” says Cowley.

“We’re respectful of our relationship with Arsenal and appreciate they have lent us one of their best young players (in Smith Rowe). We work collectively to find the right pathway for Emile. There’s a lot of communication.

“Everybody learned from his loan at Leipzig last year and we’re trying to learn from other people’s mistakes rather than our own.

“If we manage his load correctly, we will have him on the grass more.

“He has to be in the right condition to play at his best. It’s not that he can’t play, it’s about playing safely at their top level.

“He can play another season-long loan with us but we are respectful of Arsenal and they will choose the right pathway for him.

“It is not something we have spoken about beyond this season. I don’t think Arsenal would pick that conversation up with us (yet) if we tried. The aim of this loan was to get him playing regular football, which he has.

“We are working with Arsenal to make sure it’s successful.

“Hopefully, clubs see how we look after their young players and trust us with their other top young players.”