ANTHONY GERRARD is hoping to bring his experience to bear and help Huddersfield Town maintain their excellent start to the Championship campaign.

The rugged central defender has started only one game for the club so far, at Preston in the Capital One Cup, but he’s very much in the frame now Joel Lynch is starting a three-match ban at Blackpool on Monday.

The 26-year-old former Cardiff City defender was sent on in the 3-1 victory at Hillsborough on Wednesday to cover for Lynch – striker Lee Novak being sacrificed in a team re-jig – and he made his presence felt in a stirring display alongside Peter Clarke despite being booked before he’d kicked a ball!

Gerrard was penalised for going on before Novak had left the pitch, and while he felt it restricted his tackling he’s now looking forward to perhaps, earning a run in the starting XI, with Bloomfield Road now in his sights.

“I came here to play games and maybe I’ll now get a chance and keep my place,” said the Liverpudlian.

“While I was fit when I came here, not playing for six months at Cardiff set me back in terms of sharpness – you can’t buy match sharpness and anticipation – so it was understandable the manager would go with the two lads (Clarke and Lynch).

“It looks like my chance might come sooner rather than later.

“But I came here to add to the squad and give a bit of experience, and hopefully that’s what I will do.”

Gerrard is pleased Town are already sixth in the standings, but warns there is a lot of hard work ahead to stay towards the top.

“It’s been a great start,” he explained.

“I thought we were very unfortunate to get beaten at Cardiff in the first match – we should have won it, never mind losing it – and we have just kicked on from there.

“The lads are buzzing, and the team spirit and work ethic means everything in this league.

“The lads have shown great grit and determination and team spirit can’t be under-estimated.

“When everyone is happy and working for each other it makes things a lot easier.