TOM CLARKE is backing Huddersfield Town to bounce back strongly from their setback at League I leaders Charlton.
The versatile 23-year-old, currently on loan at Leyton Orient, took in Monday’s televised 2-0 defeat at The Valley as a radio pundit.
It left Town in third, eight points behind Charlton and one off Sheffield Wednesday, who Clarke faced on Saturday (the Owls were 1-0 winners at Hillsborough).
The loss was the first in 44 regular league games for Lee Clark’s side and Clarke, one of 34 players involved in the Football League record sequence, said: “That statistic shows what Town are all about.
“The run might be over, but it’s something which will have given the lads a lot of confidence and self-belief.
“Charlton might have won this particular battle, but there is a long way to go and there will be plenty of twists and turns.
“Lee Clark has assembled a strong squad with plenty of talent and options, and that will be crucial over the second half of the season.
“There are some strong sides among the promotion candidates, but we are as good as any.”
With Town out of the FA Cup – they don’t play again until the home game against Bournemouth on Saturday week – Clarke, who has been playing in midfield for Orient, is hoping to get the go-ahead to figure in Saturday’s second-round tie at home to Gillingham.
“I came here to get games, and the more I play, the better,” explained the academy product, whose initial loan runs until December 10.
“Hopefully something will be sorted, because having played 11 games so far, I want to keep the momentum going.”
Clarke is open-minded about the rest of the season, adding: “After December 10, nothing else can be sorted until the January transfer window.
“I haven’t given up hope of playing for Town again, and I will come back, get my head down and work as hard as I can in training.
“If an opportunity does arise, I want to make sure I’m ready to take it, but if it needs another loan for me to get some more football, so be it.”
