Matt Crooks enjoyed a great 20th birthday present as he completed a full 90 minutes of competitive football in his comeback after ankle surgery.

The midfielder helped Town’s Under 21s maintain their stranglehold on the Professional Development League II North scene with a 4-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

“I’m buzzing to have played the full match,” said the Huddersfield-born academy product, who damaged ligaments during an Under 21 friendly at Bury in September.

Crooks, who spent time on Manchester United’s books before joining Town at 15, first came to the fore when named in the squad for the FA Cup first-round tie at Cambridge in 2010-11.

He has been an unused substitute at first-team level several times as well as having loan spells at FC Halifax Town and Radcliffe Borough.

Steve Eyre’s Town side, who made the PDL play-offs last season, are unbeaten in 11 league games, having won 10, and are 16 points clear of nearest rivals Crewe.

New frontline signing Joe Lolley made his club debut at Hillsborough, where Harry Bunn bagged a first goal since signing a short-term Town contract.

The former Manchester City man, who was previously on loan, has netted four times in as many Under 21 outings.

Duane Holmes, Jordan Sinnott, with a penalty, and Chris Atkinson, back from a loan stint at Tranmere, got the other goals.

“Obviously taking 31 points from a possible 33 is a real achievement,” said Eyre, whose side are next in action against Coventry at the John Smith’s Stadium on Monday, February 3 (1.00).

“But what has been most satisfying during this time is that we’ve never had an easy game. Most importantly the players are learning, improving and are becoming tactically more astute.

“The first half was cagey. Matt Crooks and Jordan Sinnott played well despite being slightly out of position and Joe Lolley enjoyed lots of possession.

“I thought we were a final pass short of scoring lots of goals in the second half, but I was delighted with the ones we got.

“Ian Bennett made two first-class saves and Anton Robinson used his experience to show intelligent gameplay throughout.”

Eyre’s opposite number at Wednesday Lee Bullen was unimpressed with his charges, saying: “I think they let themselves down. They were well beaten.

“Huddersfield are top of the league and are unbeaten so we knew it would be tough. But they showed a lot more hunger and desire in the second half than we did.”