HUDDERSFIELD Town have handed academy skipper Greg Pearson a one-year contract.

The 18-year-old left-sided defender has caught the eye this season, with manager Lee Clark hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Jack Hunt and Liam Ridehalgh, who have both made their mark at first-team level.

Pearson travelled with the squad for the League I game at Plymouth in October.

He has also trained with the senior players and Clark, preparing for Saturday’s big match at Brighton, said: “We have worked with Greg over the course of the season.

“The standards of the first team are improving day on day and Greg has shown great promise, so we are looking forward to working with him on a day by day basis.

“We’ve seen some of the talent emerging from the academy in the likes of Jack, Liam and Chris Atkinson and hopefully Greg can be the next.”

Pearson, who can play left-back or centre-back, is from Halifax and played for Warley Rangers before joining Town’s academy at Under 13 level.

Ankle-injury victim Adam Field will stay with the academy for a third year, but Aidan D’Arcy, Adam Colton, Michael McCaffery and Shane Birtles have been released.

Meanwhile the Football League have confirmed play-off semi-final dates with Town, if they’re involved, in away action against the side finishing sixth on Saturday, May 14 (12.45) and at home on Wednesday, May 18 (7.45).