TOM CLARKE is hoping for the chance to help Town topple Scunthorpe tomorrow night – then erase a painful Galpharm memory.
For the Easter Monday meeting with Carlisle is a repeat of the October 2006 fixture in which the academy product suffered the knee injury which kept him out for the remainder of that season.
Clarke, who needed knee reconstruction surgery, has struggled to tie down a regular place ever since, but having signed a contract extension through to the end of next season, has started Town’s last six games and would like to remain in situ.
The versatile defender faces tough competition from the likes of brother Nathan, Andy Butler, fit-again duo Andy Holdsworth and Robbie Williams, Dominik Werling and on-loan Liverpool teenager Martin Kelly.
“I’ve had to be patient to get back into the team, and I won’t give up my place without a real fight,” said the 21-year-old former England junior international who had a loan spell at Bradford City earlier this season.
“It’s a case of working hard in matches and in training and doing everything I can to impress the manager, who has shown great faith in me by giving me my new contract.
“There are a lot of good players at this club, but I knew my chance would come at some stage, and now it has.
“I’ve been involved in the 16 regularly under the present manager, and making the step up into the starting side was great for me.
“We’ve got two tough games coming up, because Scunthorpe are chasing the play-offs and Carlisle are fighting relegation.
“But the intention is to win both of them, and I want to be a part of the side that does that.
“No disrespect to the other clubs I’ve been with (Clarke also had a loan stint at Halifax), but this is the place I want to be.
“I’ve been involved with Huddersfield Town since I was eight, I’ve seen my brother Nathan establish himself as a regular, and I want to do the same thing.”
