LEE CLARK has hailed Tommy Miller as a perfect role model for Huddersfield Town’s younger midfielders.
At 32, he and 33-year-old Damien Johnson are the elder statesmen in a group which also includes Anton Robinson, 25, Scott Arfield, 23, Oscar Gobern, 20, and Matt Crooks, 17.
Boss Clark, whose side visit Notts County today, was delighted to snap up former Hartlepool, Ipswich and Sunderland man on a free from League I rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.
He made his 23rd appearance for Town in Friday’s 1-1 home draw against Carlisle.
“Tommy is a terrific footballer who can play one and two touch and is always looking before he receives the ball, getting pictures in his head of what to do next,” explained Clark, himself a former midfielder.
“He’s an example I use to the younger players of playing on the half-turn, not just the way you’re facing, and he’s a great role model for them in lots of ways.”
Clark is hopeful ex-Northern Ireland international Johnson, who is on a season-long loan from Plymouth, will soon be fit again after the hamstring injury picked up in the home game against Bournemouth on December 10.
“Damien’s not too far off, but there is a bit of scar tissue there from previous injuries, so we are wary of that.
“He’s a very experienced player who knows and understands his own body, so we’ll listen to what he has to say.”
Clark expects adaptable full-back Calum Woods to be sidelined between two and four weeks by an ankle ligament problem sustained during training.
“At first the prognosis wasn’t too good, but we have had some encouraging feedback over the last few days, and it seems he’s responding to treatment,” he said.
