QPR v Huddersfield Town: A race against time for under-pressure Darren Moore - and it's nothing to do with the January transfer window

It is everything to do with buying himself enough credit to convince supporters that he is worth persisting with - and making sure that the numbers game does not count against him with those in the corridors of power at Huddersfield Town, who are likely to be forced into taking drastic action if results do not improve quickly.

That is heightened by the fact that two huge relegation six-pointers are next up for Town, against QPR and Moore’s former club Sheffield Wednesday.

Back in the autumn, there were mitigating circumstances regarding Moore’s slow start to his Town tenure, results and performance-wise.

Double-figure injury counts were the norm and there was no January window open.

Town have moved pretty quickly to address deficiencies up front this month with Rhys Healey and Bojan Radulovic brought in for decent outlays. A pacey, ball-playing defender too in Radinio Balker, who could make his debut at QPR.

A late call will be made regarding the Dutchman, who has shrugged off a bout of illness that affected him as he was in the process of leaving Groningen.

The treatment room is still busier than it should be, but the situation is improving.

For Town’s sake, the integration of new signings needs to be quick. And for Moore’s. Now is the time he can be fairly judged.

Moore said: "We had a tough time (at first) and we have had to be adaptable. I give these players so much credit for coming up against adversity and getting on with it.

"What we have been allowed to do now is increase the squad with one or two signings in key areas.

"Del (Delano Burgzorg) had been playing as a number nine, but look back in his history and he’s not an out-and-out ‘nine’, he’s more of a wide player. It’s things like that.

"We all got together, the chairman (Kevin Nagle), Mark (Cartwright) and Lee (Maybury) and identified areas we needed to improve and are all on the same page and brought those players in. Those players need to be integrated in really quickly and settle down quickly into a system.

"Hopefully, we will also get one or two more back off the treatment table to give us a little bit more strength in depth going forward.

"Although we have done solid work before, we feel that now, in the second half of the season in the latter games, it will see the fortunes of the team turn."

Moore’s reference of ‘system’ is pertinent with Nagle, in his post-match video diary after last weekend’s draw at Blackburn, going public in his belief that Town should be utilising a different formation.

Nagle, never a shrinking violet in his views, also referenced Sunday’s game as ‘must win’. Whether he meant it or otherwise, it has intensified the pressure upon Moore.

The Town chief remains phlegmatic about the chairman’s views. He sees it as a sign of passion, as opposed to undermining him.

Moore commented: "Every manager, not just me, is always being questioned. It happens in the highest and lowest league. It’s part and parcel of the job.

"You are in a position where everyone has their own opinion and that’s what makes the game so beautiful. What shape, players and system you should play and how you should be doing this and that.

"It’s always going to be prevalent in the professional game, that’s the game we are in. It will be here, today, tomorrow and onwards in the future."