HUDDERSFIELD Town manager Simon Grayson confirmed today that midfielder Damien Johnson is fit and ready to play.

The 33-year-old former Northern Ireland international hasn't figured in any of Grayson's first three matches at the club.

But Grayson, talking in this morning's Press conference, said Johnson hasn't been frozen out of the picture - nor has anyone else on the books as Town prepare to take on Hartlepool at the Galpharm Stadium tomorrow night (7.45).  

"Damien has trained for the last couple of weeks, but the fact is we have a big squad here and not everybody can fit into the 11 or the 16," said Grayson, who is lining up a reserve game on Wednesday to give a run-out to fringe players.  

"I know Damien and his attributes. He is a good pro and he is working hard to try and get into the 16, but we have given one or two other people opportunities so far.  

"He is not out of the reckoning or anything like that. He is a good lad and I know what he is capable of doing.  

"It's just a matter of trying to get the right balance in the team at the moment and Damien is fit and available, as are the Clarke brothers (Tom and Nathan) and lads like Kallum Higginbotham, Danny Cadamarteri and Anton Robinson.  

"With a big squad it's not easy to get everyone games. We are trying to pick the right team for each game, it's as simple as that.  

"It would be nice to have the same team on a regular basis and have that continuity, but if looking to keep improving means we have to make changes in personnel then that's what I'm going to have to do."      

Town are awaiting confirmation from Sheffield United about the development game on Wednesday.  

Club captain Peter Clarke will be involved in that if he doesn't make a return against Hartlepool.  

"Peter has had a week's training and he trained again on Saturday morning, so he'll work again today and we'll assess him," said Grayson.  

"He hasn't played for a few weeks so he might be a bit ring rusty and it would probably be a gamble if we decided to play him against Hartlepool. If he doesn't play then we've got Wednesday's match lined up for him."