Huddersfield Town v Middlesbrough - Terriers striker Frazier Campbell full of respect for ‘oddball’ Neil Warnock

Although his abiding memory of the veteran boss is not one that you would readily imagine.

Town striker Campbell worked with Warnock at one of his old clubs in Crystal Palace for a spell in 2014 and can vouch for his motivational skills and managerial acumen, which is still as sharp as ever at the age of nearly 72, given his renaissance work at Boro.

In an often sterile and sanitised football world, Warnock remains not just a serial promotion winner, but also one of the genuine managerial characters remaining in the game, as Campbell can attest.

He quipped: “He is a bit of an oddball. He would be in the gym in the morning with his 1980’s sweatband on – on his cross-trainer and things like that.

“I got on really well with him. He is a great character and obviously a fantastic manager as well.

“He has got the experience and knows how to win games of football and that shows in his record.”

In the winter of his long managerial career, Warnock is cherishing every day in what he says will be his last port of call in football. Although with the Yorkshireman, you can never take that as read.

Like Warnock, Campbell is making the most of the tail end of his playing days, which sees him stride out for his hometown club at the age of 33.

Despite his obvious pride at representing Town, Lowerhouses-raised Campbell says that a desire to learn even at his senior age is a stronger force that sentiment.

Working with head coach Carlos Corberan has been enlightening and an education as Campbell is quick to acknowledge.

He commented: “Once you get to a stage where you are not really interested in learning anymore, you should more or less hang your boots up. Hopefully, I have got a few more years left in my tank. I am hungry and still want to win more than ninety nine per cent of the squad!

“It is definitely something I try and maintain and keep looking forward and being humble.”

Warnock name-checked Campbell in his musings ahead of today’s encounter and expect a bit of banter before, during and after the game.

Nothing much misses Warnock and he spoke about his side having to be on their toes to combat Campbell and co.

The hosts face a Boro line-up who boast the best defensive statistics in the country and a hard-fought victory against such a strong and combative opponent would represent the perfect fillip ahead of a frenetic December, according to Campbell.

He observed: “Middlesbrough are a massive club with a big manager and good squad of players.

“If you go toe to toe with someone like that and you end up becoming the victor, it will be a massive boost, confidence wise.

“We have got a lot of games coming up over this next 25 days or so and if you win a few of those early doors, it gives you that momentum to get more from the remaining games.”

Under normal circumstances, today’s game would have boasted a 20,000-plus crowd with a healthy contingent from Teesside.

It is a time of year when the air is crisp and the days are dark and short and football comes into its own in many respects.

More’s the pity that the national sport continues to operate behind closed doors.

They may be hope for some clubs principally in the south with Tier 2 rules meaning 2,000 fans can attend games from next weekend.

But for traditional northern clubs and football towns such as Huddersfield and Middlesbrough – both in Tier 3 – the wait must go on.

Campbell added: “It has been a difficult year and a lot of my friends and family are from around here and support the club and they are always asking me if I know if anything has changed about them coming back in the games.

“Obviously, we find out at the same time as everyone else. It is difficult, but it will make it that much sweeter when the fans are back here and see the lads play.

“We have changed managers and our style of play and it would be nice for them to get down and see it live rather than on some channel online.”

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