SIMON GRAYSON could hand Huddersfield Town favourite Alan Lee another chance to give Sheffield Wednesday the shudders in tomorrow’s big lunchtime showdown at the Galpharm.
The striker helped condemn the Owls to relegation from the Championship – and keep Crystal Palace up – when he scored in a dramatic 2-2 final-day draw at Hillsborough in 2010.
Two years on, Lee is aiming to put a big dent in Wednesday’s bid for automatic promotion from League I, and help Town keep the pressure on Sheffield United, who currently occupy second place behind leaders Charlton.
Tuesday’s vital 3-1 victory at Leyton Orient means Grayson’s side will leapfrog the Owls and go third on goal difference by winning the eagerly-awaited Yorkshire derby, which kicks off at 12.30.
And with six games to go, Town are five points behind Sheffield United, who take on Bournemouth at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.
“All the sides in the mix know that anything is still possible,” said Grayson, who was delighted with Lee’s contribution at Orient, where he had a hand in two of his side’s goals after making a first start in eight games.
“Alan and I go back a long way – we were both players at Aston Villa in the nineties – so I know what he is capable of, and he’s done ever so well since I became manager here.
“He can come off the bench and affect a game, but on Tuesday, I just felt he and Jordan Rhodes could be a real handful, especially with Lee Novak playing out on the right, and Alan did a big job from the start.”
Grayson, whose squad stayed overnight in London after the Orient game to avoid stamina-sapping early-hours return to Huddersfield, will today run a check on 14-goal Novak, who came off at half-time at Brisbane Road because of an ankle knock.
“There were one or two little niggles, but one thing’s for sure – everyone will be desperate to play in what is a huge match for both sides,” added Grayson, who will be without right-back Jack Hunt for the next two games because of suspension.
Tom Clarke and Calum Woods, who came on for Hunt at half-time, are set to take the full-back berths with Grayson explaining: “They both have experience and versatility.”
