Huddersfield Town’s Jordan Rhodes targets FA Cup progress

Nov 27 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Jordan Rhodes

JORDAN RHODES has his sights firmly set on an FA Cup hat trick when Town tackle Port Vale in the Potteries tomorrow.

The 19-year-old striker has made two previous appearances in the competition, and scored for the winning side each time.

Now he wants to help Lee Clark’s side bounce back from Tuesday’s League I setback at Swindon by booking a place in the third round.

“That’s the really iconic draw, because it creates the possibility of the traditional David versus Goliath tie,” said the former Ipswich player.

“It would be brilliant to go on a cup run, and at a club like ours, everybody, be they players, officials or fans, thinks about getting a home tie against one of the big clubs.

“That kind of incentive really drives you on, and we’re all geared up for what will be a tough game against Port Vale.

“I played against them when I was on loan at Brentford last season (the Bees were 2-0 winners in League II), so I know a little bit about them.

“But we’ll be fully informed by the time we take to the pitch tomorrow, and I think after the disappointment of Swindon (where Town lost 2-1), we all want to ensure it was just a blip.”

Town had won five on the spin ahead of their Wiltshire woe, including the 6-1 first-round drubbing of Dagenham and Redbridge, when top scorer Rhodes bagged his 13th and most recent goal of the campaign.

In his other FA Cup appearance, a fourth qualifying round tie at Merthyr with Oxford the season before last, Rhodes scored both in a 2-1 triumph.

“That was the first game after I went on loan from Ipswich, so they were my first senior goals, and are a happy memory,” he explained.

“I haven’t been involved in the FA Cup that much so far, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both my appearances, and I want plenty more of them.