HUDDERSFIELD Town boss Lee Clark admits he’s found it hard to leave captain Peter Clarke out of the team – but says the form of stand-in skipper Antony Kay and Jamie McCombe has made it impossible to make central defensive changes.

The third-placed Galpharm side go to fourth-placed MK Dons for League I’s match of the day chasing a third successive win, and third successive clean sheet after beating Tranmere 2-0 at home and then-leaders Sheffield United 3-0 away.

Clarke, who originally lost his place because of a back problem, hasn’t figured in the last five games, and the manager said: “We’ve talked about the situation. It’s been tough for me to leave him out and he’s frustrated but he also understands.

“He knows the lads at the back are playing well, and when you do the job, you keep the shirt. I said that we had to eradicate the errors we were making earlier in the season, and the boys have been working hard to do that.

“We’re facing a tough test today, because MK Dons have good sharp players who pass the ball very well, get into little holes and pockets and work hard to cause you problems, but we have talented players as well, and we’re going there to win.

“I’ve stressed to the players that we can give them problems.”