ALEX SMITHIES could yet face Notts County on Sunday after being forced to return from England Under 21 duty with a knee injury.
Town’s talented keeper, who has kept three successive clean sheets for the League I promotion hopefuls, was expected to miss out against Paul Ince’s side after joining up with Stuart Pearce’s young Three Lions squad in London ahead of the games against Denmark in Viborg on Thursday and Iceland at Preston on Monday.
But he’s now back in Huddersfield for treatment, with boss Lee Clark explaining: “He’s got a little niggle which he felt during England training and which we need to get sorted.
“We’ll keep tabs on his condition as the week goes on, and at this stage, I wouldn’t rule him in or out of Sunday’s game.”
It’s the latest in a series of England setbacks for Smithies, who came closest to a cap when he was an unused substitute for the European Championship qualifier against Lithuania at Colchester in September.
The 21-year-old, previously capped at Under 16, 17, 18 and 19 level, was called up for the double header against Romania in October, when Pearce’s side clinched a place in this summer’s Euro finals in Denmark, but had to withdraw after picking up a thigh injury.
He was just returning to fitness when the Under 21s played in Germany in November, and was out with a knee injury when they went to Italy in February.
Pearce is using the current get-together and two matches to look at his options ahead of the Euros, when England face Spain, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
While Smithies is back at the Galpharm, midfielder Kevin Kilbane is with the Republic of Ireland for their big Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin on Saturday and next Tuesday’s home friendly against Uruguay, keeping him out of the Notts clash.
But top scorer Jordan Rhodes, in the Scotland Under 21 squad for tomorrow’s game in Belgium, will be available for the Sky-televised showdown, which kicks off at 4.00.
Clark, who has experienced keepers Ian Bennett and Nick Colgan on the books, will also have versatile Lee Peltier back after a four-match suspension.
Left-back Stephen Jordan has returned to Sheffield United after his loan spell at Town. The former Manchester City and Burnley man played six times.
