Huddersfield Town performance coach Steve Black feels they are geared for promotion

Aug 6 2010 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

EAGER Town head into tomorrow’s League I opener at Notts County with Plymouth midfielder Damien Johnson on board for the season and Steve Black promising: “There’ll be lots of excitement for our fans.”

The respected performance coach reports fine-tuning to an “excellent pre-season” has been completed this week and the squad are itching for battle to commence at Meadow Lane (3.00).

The arrival of 31-year-old former Blackburn, Birmingham and Northern Ireland man Johnson on loan with a view to a permanent move means nine new signings will make the trip to the East Midlands – the starting line-up is closely under wraps – and Black is confident the players are primed to meet a strong challenge from Craig Short’s promoted League II champions.

“With the work we’ve seen day by day on the training ground we know we are gelling and we are hugely optimistic,” said Black.

“It’s a massive season for us and we are desperate for it to start, because we want to get out of this league and into the Championship.

“Last year we went close but not quite close enough – this season we will do it.

“That’s the positive feeling we’ve got in the camp and we’re confident, because in the work we’ve been doing on the training ground the players have shown great character and commitment and, when you have good habits and processes in place, you can’t help but get it right on matchday.

“We will encourage the lads to keep doing the right things and not to get bored of doing the right things.

“Lee Clark is a top football man and he wants us to play good football and winning football – which is what the supporters want as well.