Former Town hero Stead back for Galpharm date?

Aug 26 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

JON STEAD will be hoping for the chance to face his first club tomorrow – and prove his worth to his current employers.

Sheffield United’s 25-year-old Huddersfield-born frontman is fighting two battles ahead of the Carling Cup second-round showdown at the Galpharm.

Firstly, the former England Under 21 cap must prove his fitness after a groin injury which kept him out of the reckoning on Saturday, when the Blades won 3-1 at Blackpool.

And, with the rumour mill buzzing with talk of a possible move to Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle as the closure of the transfer window looms, he has to force his way into manager Kevin Blackwell’s selection for his side’s second visit to Town this month.

Stead, whose goalscoring exploits with Town earned him a £1.25m move to the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in February 2004, figured in the Galpharm friendly which Stan Ternent’s side won 2-1 with goals by ex-Blade Danny Cadamarteri and Keigan Parker.

But he’s figured in only one of United’s competitive games – as a late substitute in the 1-0 opening-day defeat at the hands of Birmingham City at St Andrews.