LEE CLARK put talk of Newcastle firmly on the back burner as he fine-tuned his team ahead of tomorrow’s first home League I assignment of the season against Southampton (3.00).
At this stage, the manager’s only interest in the Carling Cup tie which will take place on Wednesday, August 26 (7.45) is that Town maintain the form on show in Tuesday’s 3-1 first-round Galpharm win over Stockport.
“It’s a cracking draw, no doubt about it, but we’ve got three vital league games before we go up there,” said the ex-Newcastle player and coach, whose side host Brighton next Tuesday and visit Bristol Rovers a week tomorrow.
“In this division, sides don’t come much bigger than Southampton, and it’s a great way to kick-off our home league programme.”
While home fans will hope to see Jordan Rhodes add to his three goals in two games so far, supporters of the Saints – who make their first visit to Huddersfield since a 1-0 League Cup second-round first-leg victory in September 1994 and their first for a league game since a 2-0 top-flight victory in December 1971 – will be backing one-time Town target Rickie Lambert to continue on the goal trail.
The 27-year-old was on target for Bristol Rovers in their 2-1 home defeat by Leyton Orient last Saturday, then grabbed a debut goal for new-look Southampton, who signed him in a £1m-plus deal, in Tuesday’s 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Northampton on the South coast.
Relegated Saints, stung by a 10-point deduction for going into administration but with their future brighter after being taken over by Swiss businessman Markus Liebherr, started life in League I with a 1-1 home draw against Millwall.
Clark, who pits his wits against former Reading, West Ham and Charlton manager Alan Pardew, added: "Rickie Lambert is a very good striker, but Southampton are about much more than one player.
"I saw a lot of them last season when I was working for Norwich, and they have some of the best young players around.
"The points deduction will have been a hammer blow, but will also have brought them together and given them even more incentive to accrue points as quickly as possible.
"I have made my players very aware of how dangerous they will be, but on the other side of the coin, if we play as we can than there’s nothing to fear.
"I was very pleased with most aspects of the Stockport performance, and we will be looking to kick on tomorrow."
