Huddersfield Town’s problems pile up as midfielder faces knee surgery

Ironically, after an FA Cup weekend where he changed 11 players to protect some of his senior figures, coach Carlos Corberan has hit something of an injury crisis ahead of tomorrow’s Championship trip to Watford.

Naby Sarr, Isaac Mbenza, Alex Pritchard, Adama Diakhaby and January signing Danny Grant are all set to miss out on top of longer-term absentees Richard Stearman, Josh Koroma, Christopher Schindler and Tommy Elphick. The most serious and damaging new injury is to Eiting.

The 22-year-old was sent on loan to West Yorkshire to kick-start a career that has struggled to fulfil its potential after a serious knee injury. He played in 19 of the Terriers’ last 21 league games – 16 from the start, scoring three goals – before suffering another knee problem.

“Carel Eiting had a problem with the knee in the last (league) game,” revealed Corberan. “We sent him to the doctors at Ajax because they have to make the decision.

“He has had surgery. He’s going to need around three or four months to recover from the injury. Ajax will make the decision whether he stays here or not.”

The imminent sale of goalkeeper Ben Hamer to Swansea City could free up funds to sign a replacement but in the short term, Corberan will look to autumn signing Alex Vallejo, or Scott High, who has recently returned from a loan spell at League One Shrewsbury Town.

“One of the players that has been working with us is Scott High,” said Corberan when asked his thinking. “Alex Vallejo can play in the middle of the pitch too. There is a possibility we can play with one of those players or both.

“Scott would bring a lot of energy, determination and ambition. He wants the ball. He reminds me of Lewis O’Brien with his mentality.”

Vallejo joined as a free agent in October but only last week, when Huddersfield lost to League One Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, was he entrusted with a start.

“Vallejo has to continue improving his physical level and his understanding of the game,” said Corberan. “He has a lot of tactical understanding but physically he needs to adapt to the demands of the Championship and to a long time without playing. That’s why it has taken him longer than expected (to make his full debut).

“He will be in the 20 (tomorrow) without any doubt.”

Alex Pritchard has been linked with Queens Park Rangers and although he will not be at Vicarage Road, Corberan downplayed without dismissing talk of the injury-plagued No 10 moving on.

“He is one of the players who is working here with us,” he said. “Unfortunately he has had some (injury) problems and hasn’t had the impact we hoped. When he has been with the team he has helped the team.”

Forward Grant joined from Bohemians in the new year, but will not make his debut until mid-February at the earliest.

“Danny Grant felt something in his calf before the Cup game against Plymouth and now he will spend four to six weeks with the medical staff with an injury we wanted to avoid,” revealed Corberan.

“This is why we say players need a little bit of time to adapt to training when they’ve had the habit of training three times a week and they have to get into the habit of training five times a week and be ready for the demands of the Championship. But he’s a young player and the situation with him hasn’t changed because we want to develop him. Now he will work with the medical staff to make him fit and ready.”

There was at least some good news on striker Danny Ward, who has been dogged by injury since returning to the club in the summer.

“Danny Ward is one of the positive news (stories) we’ve had this week,” said Corberan.

“He completed the last three training sessions. If all goes well, he will be in the squad too.”

Like Grant, forward Sorba Thomas has joined this week with an eye to the longer-term. He arrives from Boreham Wood and could be loaned out before playing for the Terriers, with League Two Harrogate Town mentioned as a possible destination.

“The idea with Sorba is to be a project of the club,” said Corberan. “He has been playing at a lower lever (in the Conference) but as a club we want to continue trying to help him develop because we feel he will be a good player for Huddersfield.

“We will have a look at him with the squad and try to continue his development.

“Yesterday was the first day he could train with the group and it was not normal conditions (because of the heavy snowfall) but I want to look at him.

“If you move from (non-league) level to Championship level he might need some steps in between that will help his progress.

“First all we are going to look at him in training before deciding what is the best moment for him (to go on loan).”

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