ADAM CLAYTON has a key role to play as Huddersfield Town aim to maintain their Championship challenge.
That’s the view of boss Simon Grayson, whose seventh-placed side tackle Millwall in South London this afternoon.
Grayson signed the midfielder for the second time when he recruited him from former club Leeds in the summer after snapping him up from Manchester City in 2010.
Former England Under 20 international Clayton has been an ever-present so far, with Town picking up six victories, three of them away, in their first 12 games.
The 23-year-old has combined effectively with Keith Southern and Oliver Norwood, and the boss is a big fan of his energetic approach.
“I know what Adam is all about. He works hard, he always wants the ball and he gets into spaces to stretch the opposition,” said Grayson.
“He’s flexible as well, because playing wide right in a four-man midfield, which he has been doing, is not really his position. Adam is more of a central midfielder really, but he’s worked hard at adapting and has done just what we wanted him to.”
Grayson took his squad South yesterday, training in London ahead of their bid to inflict a fourth home defeat on the Lions, who have lost to Blackpool, Cardiff and Brighton.
Kenny Jackett’s side are 19th but unbeaten in five and Grayson, whose team lost 3-1 at Peterborough on Tuesday, accepted: “They’re seldom easy to play against on their own patch.
“Kenny has them well organised, and we’ll have to deal with what they throw at us and implement our gameplan better than we did at Peterborough.”
Town’s Under 21 clash with Leicester on Monday will take place at the John Smith’s Stadium (7.00).
