Huddersfield In Focus: Michael Appleton

- Michael Appleton takes an extensive look at Saturday’s opponents Huddersfield Town
- The Leicester City assistant manager has been impressed with the way the Terriers have started their Premier League campaign
- Appleton kept a close eye on Huddersfield’s clash with West Ham United on Monday evening

The Terriers have conceded just two goals in their first four league games and sit sixth in the table having accumulated seven points in total.

They have been riding a wave of optimism after earning promotion to the Premier League and Appleton believes that will continue to play a factor this weekend.  

“After a side that has been promoted, that momentum always seems to stick with them for a certain period of time,” Appleton told LCFC TV. “It certainly has done with Huddersfield.

“Even leading into the game on Monday, to not concede a goal in your first three Premier League games is pretty impressive. I suppose the first goal that broke the deadlock on Monday night was quite fortuitous from West Ham’s point of view.

“They’ve done very well and they look like a side probably similar to ourselves when we first got promoted. They had a fantastic team spirit and togetherness and they’ll need that for the season.

“We had a member of staff at the game. Myself and the manager were watching the Under-23s on Monday night, but at the same time, we were trying to keep an eye on what’s going on at West Ham.

“We’ve obviously watched the game since and had a little look. We’re aware of the threats that Huddersfield will pose us on the day and as West Ham and the previous three teams they’ve come up against have found out, we know it’s going to be a tough game.”

Appleton was in attendance at King Power Stadium on Monday evening, when five first teamers notched up some valuable minutes.

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Michael Appleton oversees a training session at Belvoir Drive.

“I think it’s going to be really beneficial,” Appleton continued. “The players that played all needed a game for different reasons.

“I certainly think it helps our young players too when we’ve got some senior players in the side. It’s something that going forward, we can use to our advantage and use some of our senior players in games like that to keep their match fitness. 

“I’d also like to think we can stay in the Carabao Cup as long as possible to give the full squad the opportunity at times to play really competitive football.”

The assistant manager says the Foxes have been strengthened since his arrival in June and that competition for places means every player must be ready to fight.

He said: “Looking at the squad at the start of pre-season to what it is now, there’s more bodies which makes it more competitive.

“It’s up to the players that aren’t playing in the first team at the moment to not only have a competitive side to force themselves into the team, but to have the quality that goes with it.

“When you’re not playing, you lose a little bit of sharpness so it’s important that when they go into those games, they’re more than ready. This week coming, we’ve got three games and we’re going to need every single member of the squad.

“It can get quite lively there – I’ve been there before – but we have to take the game to Huddersfield, as I’m sure we will do.”