For a man who has played only 10 minutes of Huddersfield Town’s four matches so far this season, Michael Hefele has made a huge impact.

The German centre-back was already a hit with the fans before his dramatic equaliser at Aston Villa .

Hefele, making his first Championship appearance after coming off the bench in the English Football League Cup clash at Shrewsbury Town, had been on the pitch for only 26 seconds when he forced Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini into the rushed clearance which resulted in his goal.

The ball rebounded into the net and Hefele rushed towards the travelling fans to perform ‘the claw’.

David Wagner talks about Michael Hefele:

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An unusual celebration by an unusual man who could be seen sharing a joke with Villa fans as he warmed up on the touchline.

“Hefe is strange - but in a positive way,” smiled Town head coach David Wagner, who signed the 25-year-old on a free transfer from Dynamo Dresden this summer.

“He is one of a number of good characters in our dressing room and very much his own man.

“I think this must be one of the strangest first touches in a Championship game.

“Thinking of this moment, I still can’t get the smile off my face!

“And I think if one player deserved this moment, it’s Hefe.

“He showed the never-give-up attitude which is so important to me.

“I like my players to always see a chance, maybe when there isn’t really one, and he did this.”

Former Borussia Dortmund II boss Wagner added: “I didn’t work with Hefe in Germany, but I had heard about him.

“He has passion, which I always like, and he shows that even if you are not on the pitch, you can have a positive influence.

“Everybody wants to pay every second of every match, but of course it’s not possible.

“But you are still a part of the family, and you can still be important, which Hefe is.

“When you work the way he does, both on and off the pitch, you will be rewarded.”