MARK ROBINS reckons Danny Ward can light up Huddersfield Town’s season.
The winger made a high-impact return from a two-month lay-off by coming off the bench to sink Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Now Robins wants Ward to play another key role when Charlton come to the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.
Town have the chance to chalk up successive victories for only the third time this season, and further boost their bid for Championship safety, after Ward’s sizzling long-range stoppage-time strike sealed the 2-1 win over Boro (fellow substitute Alan Lee had notched an 87th-minute leveller).
A broken metatarsal meant the 22-year-old former Bolton man hadn’t played since Boxing Day, and Robins sprung a surprise by including him in his squad against Boro.
“I’ve been desperate to play Danny,” said the manager, who introduced him for Theo Robinson after 77 minutes.
“I was wondering how long I could get out of him and while it was a bit of a risk, it paid off, because I thought he lit the place up.
“Danny has the ability to be a real spark, and I know how frustrated he is to have been out and how much he wants to make up for lost time.”
Robins is also looking forward to the returns of striker Jermaine Beckford, who has missed nine games with a hamstring tear, and midfielder Keith Southern, out for 11 with an Achilles.
Leicester loanee Beckford is the closer of the two to a comeback and Robins added: “I’m looking forward to working with Jermaine. He needs to get himself back on the pitch because he’s a talent. The weekend might be a bit too soon, but we’ll wait and see.”
Robins is checking on defenders Anthony Gerrard (Achilles), Peter Clarke (nose) and Calum Woods (hamstring), as well as winger Sean Scannell (hamstring) ahead of Charlton’s visit.
