Dean Whitehead will be a vital controlling influence for Huddersfield Town this season.
That verdict comes from the club’s longest serving player – Alex Smithies – as Town play their final pre-season friendly against Barnsley before the big Championship kick-off at Hull City.
When the 25-year-old Smithies made his debut for red-card victim Matt Glennon at Southend eight years ago, Town had the likes of Ronnie Wallwork and Michael Collins in central midfield and the formation was rigidly 4-4-2.
Set-up and personnel have changed drastically since then and Smithies is playing under his ninth different boss in Chris Powell (caretakers and permanent) – but the need for a steadying, experienced head in the engine room has never altered.
Smithies believes they’ve signed an excellent anchorman in 33-year-old midfielder Whitehead to work alongside Jonathan Hogg, Jacob Butterfield and Kyle Dempsey at the heart of the team, and he’s convinced that will help Town improve on all fronts.
“I’ve seen a lot of players come and go at this club and some exciting players have come in this season,” said Smithies.
“The fans have already been able to see them in pre-season and I think someone like Dean Whitehead is going to be a massive player for us.
“He is a role model for the younger players around him, he really sets the standard in training and in games and I think he’ll be able to help us really control matches this season.
“Someone like that is really going to help us.”
