Nathan Eccleston so happy to extend Huddersfield Town stay

Feb 6 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NATHAN ECCLESTON couldn’t be happier with his move to Huddersfield.

The 19-year-old striker who made an instant impact for Town at Yeovil sees his long-term future very much at Liverpool, where he has a contract through to 2013.

But the Mancunian marksman whose Town debut goal sealed the 1-0 League I win at Huish Park knows he has a great opportunity at the Galpharm to kick-start his career.

Originally signed for a month, the England Under 19 player’s loan was this week extended to the end of the season, and he is desperate to further Town’s promotion push by adding to his first senior goal.

It came in only his third senior appearance, after the teenager, who was named in Liverpool’s 28-man Champions League squad at the start of the season, came off the bench for Rafa Benitez’s side in their 2-1 Carling Cup fourth-round defeat at Arsenal and 3-1 Premier League loss at Fulham in October.

Those first-team appearances for the Reds sit alongside a record of regular reserve outings after Eccleston stepped up from the academy to join the first-team squad full-time.

He netted twice on his debut for the second team – coached by former Tranmere player John McMahon – in their 3-2 defeat by Blackburn.

And there have been two more to help Liverpool rise to the top of the FA Premier Reserve League North, as well as strikes in open play and a penalty shoot-out as Manchester United were overcome in the Lancashire Senior Cup.

The outcome was a new three-and-a-half year deal signed on January 11, when Liverpool boss Benitez praised the frontman, and also suggested he’d benefit from a spell out on loan.

“Nathan has played for the first team and is doing well in the reserves,” said the Spaniard. “He has quality and talent, and if he works hard, he can be a player.”