JOEL LYNCH firmly believes Huddersfield Town’s back line can shackle former striker Jordan Rhodes tonight.

Rhodes is due to return to the John Smith’s Stadium for the first time since his £8m move to Blackburn Rovers in August, for what is a hotly-anticipated clash of seventh v sixth.

But Lynch insists Town can keep the Scotland ace quiet and said: “Jordan’s a lovely lad and I wished him all the best when he moved.

“But when I’m playing against him I’ll do my job.

“He’s a good goalscorer who’s great at getting into the right positions, so you’ve always got to know where he is.

“As long as we concentrate and don’t leave him any room in the box, I’m sure we can keep him quiet.

“Hopefully there’ll be a big crowd and good atmosphere. It’s a great stadium to play in and we want the fans to get behind us.

“Blackburn are also a better team and that might help us raise our game. They’ll come to play football, so it should be a good game.”

Click on link below to view a gallery documenting Jordan Rhodes' time at Huddersfield Town.

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Lynch’s role alongside skipper Peter Clarke could be a key to beating Rovers and he added: “I love playing with him (Clarke) and I think it’s a good partnership.

“If you look at our record, I don’t think we’ve conceded many goals. He’s a great professional and real leader on the pitch.”

On Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win over Bristol City, Lynch reflected: “We’d had two bad results before that, so it was important to avoid getting into a losing habit.

Click on the link below to view our match action picture gallery from the game

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“We had to grind the result out, but we’re delighted with the win. I thought Lee Novak up top was fantastic and it was a good team goal that secured the points.”

Sean Scannell earned the win with a close-range finish after Novak, put in the clear down the left by Adam Clayton, crossed from the line.

Lynch said: “Sean’s a good friend. We signed for the club at the same time and he’s got great potential. He also works hard for the team and deserved his goal.”

Lynch also praised keeper Alex Smithies for twice preserving Town’s lead and added: “I went up to him after the game and told him those saves were fantastic.

“I have to say on the first one (from Sam Baldock) I thought they’d scored. But Alex made a great save on the line. Alex is a quality keeper and a great professional. It’s reassuring that when you need him you know he’ll always be there.”