HUDDERSFIELD Town are set to step up their search for a holding midfielder, with Blackpool’s Keith Southern among those on the radar.

Sources suggest the chances of a return to the club for Leicester’s Lee Peltier, primarily a right-back but also able to play a defensive midfield role, have lessened.

And reports linking Simon Grayson with Cardiff defender Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of Liverpool ace Steven, seem wide of the mark.

But the Town boss is believed to be keen on former Everton reserve team skipper Southern, 31, who played under him at Blackpool.

Signed from Goodison in 2002, initially on loan, Gateshead-born Southern is Blackpool’s longest-serving player, having turned out 375 times and scored 33 goals.

Grayson lost Damien Johnson to Fleetwood and also failed in bids to bring in Republic Ireland pair Keith Andrews and Paul Green.

New boys Adam Clayton, Paul Dixon, Oliver Norwood and Sean Scannell are all set to feature in tomorrow’s opening friendly at Blue Square North club Guiseley (3.00), but Joel Lynch could sit the game out with a slight stomach strain.