LEE CLARK is hoping for a welcome Christmas present for Huddersfield Town in the shape of Alex Smithies’ return to first-team contention.

Town’s talented keeper has been restricted to just nine appearances this calendar year because of a troublesome knee injury.

But after two operations and months of frustration, the highly-rated 21-year-old is nearing a comeback – and the Galpharm manager is delighted.

"Alex has had to be patient, but we knew that would be the case because we want to be sure the problem is sorted once and for all, and that means taking no risks," said Clark.

Former England junior international Smithies went under the knife for the second time in eight months in August.