Huddersfield v Fulham: Battle-hardened players top of Powell’s hit list

The coming close season will not be anywhere near as busy, but the Huddersfield Town chief is still hoping to stamp his mark.

“We have had some discussions with regards the summer,” said the Terriers’ manager. “They have been ongoing for some time.

“I recognise the position we are in as a club. We have had to streamline and make the squad a little bit lighter. It isn’t easy to manage through that.

“Sometimes, you are putting in players that you might like to give a little more time. But I have always had the inclination to get on with it and cajole young players who have maybe not had a chance.

“Moving forward, we want to re-jig. I think we are a club that, all season, have been so near and so far.

“Quite a few results that should have gone our way haven’t and I think if we had just had that little bit of know-how it could have been different.

“I do want some players that are Championship-hardened and bring that Championship quality.”

Powell’s only permanent signing since taking charge is Ishmael Miller. The 28-year-old joined from Blackpool in January after losing his way in a career that had started brightly when on loan at West Bromwich from Manchester City.

Miller was unable to build on that storming start, but Tuesday’s display against Norwich was a reminder of the talent that persuaded the Baggies to once spend almost £1m on him.

Powell added: “Ishmael is playing for his future and I think he is showing everyone that he is a player. He is adapting to a new club and we are getting to know what he likes. He is putting in the effort and producing quality; he has already got two goals at home.

“All three strikers are quite different. Ishmael certainly has a physical presence, but he’s not a target man as such. He wants the ball into feet and once he has it, not too many will get it off him. If we keep him fit and keep supplying him, he will get goals in the remaining eight games.”