SIMON GRAYSON responded to reports that Huddersfield Town will sign Blackpool favourite Keith Southern by sayIng:”I like him as a player, but I don't comment on speculation – only when deals are done.”

As Town drew 1-1 at Scottish Premier League outfit Kilmarnock in a friendly last night reports from the Lancashire resort suggested Southern has agreed a three-year contract to play under Grayson, with the 31-year-old costing Town around £300,000.

Blackpool’s longest-serving player and a firm favourite at Bloomfield Road, it’s said he will be allowed to play the first 15 and last 15 minutes of his testimonial against Everton – his first club – on August 5 as part of the transfer.

Southern, who had surgery to remove a tumour last season, has been a regular under five managers since joining Blackpool in August 2002 – Steve McMahon, Colin Hendry, Grayson, Tony Parkes and Ian Holloway.

Despite illness, he made 27 appearances for the Seasiders last season.

And Grayson added: “I played with him and managed him and he is a player I like.”

Reacting to the performance at Kilmarnock, which featured a first pre-season goal for Jordan Rhodes, manager Grayson said: “Let’s hope it the first of many.

“It was typical Jordan – he was in the right place at the right time – but it was also a great delivery from Paul Dixon.

“The game was a good test of our fitness levels which is what we want at this stage, and while we played well at times there were also some aspects that were a bit sloppy and those are things we will work on.

Town will continue their double training sessions at their Glasgow base today and tomorrow ahead of their Saturday clash with Hibernian at Easter Road when kick-off is 2pm.