MARK LILLIS looked ahead to his biggest test yet as Huddersfield Town’s caretaker manager and insisted: “We can’t wait for the challenge.”
Runaway Championship leaders Cardiff come to the John Smith’s Stadium this afternoon with bookies making them even-money favourites to win, while Town are desperate for the points to pull away from the relegation zone and despite a string of injuries, Lillis says his side are ready for the task.
Former Manchester United star and current Old Trafford reserve team chief Nicky Butt has become the latest name linked to Town’s managerial vacancy, but Lillis wants the fans’ focus to be on today’s big match and pointed out: “If we all pull together, we can win.
“Cardiff are a fantastic side, well-drilled, disciplined, full of good players and dangerous from set-pieces.
“But we have studied them very closely and believe we have found a few chinks which we will try to expose.”
With both skipper Peter Clarke (concussion) and usual stand-in Keith Southern (Achilles) joining Lee Novak (foot) on the list of absentees, Alex Smithies will wear both the captain’s armband and keeper’s shirt against Malky Mackay’s men.
It’s another honour for last season’s promotion hero and Lillis revealed: “He’s proud as punch.
“I wanted a local lad, a player with experience and a good communicator, and Alex is all three of those.
“People will point out he’s a goalkeeper and not in the middle of things, but he’s a good organiser who is used to talking to his back four, and instructions will be passed on up the field.
“I called Alex in to tell him of my decision and asked him if he wanted to sleep on it, and it took him about two seconds to say no!”
