Newcastle v Huddersfield: Elias Kachunga welcomes packed St James' Park stage

ELIAS KACHUNGA insists Huddersfield Town will not be fazed today by playing in front of the club's biggest league crowd for more than 44 years.
Huddersfield Town newcomer Elias Kachunga has scored twice for David Wagners side (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).Huddersfield Town newcomer Elias Kachunga has scored twice for David Wagners side (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).
Huddersfield Town newcomer Elias Kachunga has scored twice for David Wagners side (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).

The Terriers head to Newcastle United for a Championship clash that is expected to be watched by more than 52,000 fans.

It will represent Huddersfield’s largest crowd for a regular league game since 53,581 fans packed into Old Trafford to watch Manchester United triumph 2-0 in March, 1972.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

St James’s Park also seems certain to be a raucous place with the hosts desperate to bounce back from their opening weekend loss at Fulham – something that Kachunga, fresh from scoring twice in his first two outings for the Yorkshire club, is eagerly looking forward to experience.

“I love it when I play for a lot of people,” said the striker, who joined Town on loan from German club FC Ingolstadt during the summer. “I have played in front of 80,000 in Dortmund and Munich so this is not new to me, though the crowds in England are different. I like it.”

Kachunga’s goalscoring start to life in England means David Wagner will have no hesitation in naming the 24-year-old in his starting XI for a third consecutive game.

Nahki Wells, as a result, will have to be content with a place on the bench after being an unused substitute in the midweek EFL Cup defeat to Shrewsbury Town.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Elias is flying at the moment and he has not only scored two goals in two games but he has worked hard for the team and he never gives up,” said the Terriers’ head coach.

“I thought before the Shrewsbury game that Nahki would get some minutes but it didn’t work out like that.

“He is looking very strong in training, though, very positive and he is smiling. He has no pain in his knee, he wants the ball and he scores goals. So he is mobile and agile and this is great.

“I am very happy that we have this competition – it is what we enjoy in every position – and if he and Elias get 15 or 20 goals each this season then I will be very happy.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As for Kachunga, he just wants to make it a hat-trick of goalscoring appearances as Town look to pull off a shock at St James’ Park.

“The first two games have been good to me with two goals,” added the striker. “But I must keep going. I want to help the team.

“Against Newcastle, we will show our fans that we are giving 100 per cent. We have a young, hungry team and we want to win every match.”