Richard Stearman blow for Huddersfield Town as defender is ruled out for 'a minimum of a couple of months'

INJURY: Huddersfield Town centre-back Richard Stearman

The former Sheffield United defender came off injured at Middlesbrough last Saturday, and the problem is worse than first feared.

Naby Sarr and Christopher Schindler are set to resume their partnership at home to Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, and Corberan reiterated his faith in deputy Rarmani Edmonds-Green.

“We're going to lose him for as a minimum a couple of months,” said Corberan of 33-year-old Stearman.

“Fortunately we have recovered Rarmani Edmonds-Green (from the injury which delayed his season) so we have a clear replacement for him but at the same time we know how important Stearman was to the team.

“But the focus right now is on the players we have right now so they are ready to help the team.”

The initial thought on Stearman had been that he might be out for 10 days to a fortnight.Pipa and Alex Pritchard will join the squad if they come through Friday afternoon's training session without reactions to their recent injuries, but Corberan hinted they may not necessarily be pitched straight back in.

“I don't think it's positive to have players on the bench that aren't options to play,” he argued. “I always try to avoid players on the bench who can only play 10 or 15 minutes because you never know when you are going to need them.

“Imagine if Demeaco (Duhaney) is in the XI, he gets an injury in the 20th minute and our only right-back (on the bench) is Pipa and he can only play 15 minutes, it doesn't make sense. For me it's important to only have players who can play a minimum of 60 minutes.

“If not it doesn't make sense that they take a place another player who is fit could take.”

Juninho Bacuna also trained on Friday after missing Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Cardiff City through injury.

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