IT’S ONE in, one out at Huddersfield Town after Kallum Higginbotham’s recall from his loan at Barnsley was followed by Joey Gudjonsson’s departure.

While striker Higginbotham comes into contention for tomorrow’s League I game at Walsall, midfielder Gudjonsson is to return to play in his native Iceland after having his contract, which ran until this summer, terminated by mutual consent.

“Joey’s move is motivated by family reasons,” explained manager Simon Grayson, who has midfielders Damien Johnson, Oscar Gobern and Tommy Miller pushing for returns from injury in the West Midlands.

“He has received an offer in his home country and after coming to me, I agreed he could leave given the options we have in midfield.”

Signed from Burnley the close-season before last, Gudjonsson, 31, played 48 times last season, but didn’t feature this time around until Grayson succeeded Lee Clark and utilised him in the first eight games of his reign.

Gudjonsson said: "I would have liked to have played more during my two seasons, but that is football and you have to respect those decisions and the people who make them. I've certainly enjoyed my time here though.

"I would also like to wish the fans all the best. I've always enjoyed playing in front of them as they've offered me great support and I hope they know that I've always given everything when I've been on the pitch.

"They deserve success at their club. I have some fond memories especially the free kick that sealed a 1-0 win at Charlton last year as well pushed for promotion.

"We have a great squad here and everyone, including the off-the-field staff, is pushing in the same direction.

"I believe this club deserves to be in the Championship and it would be a brilliant achievement to get there through the play-offs this season - and I believe that with the quality that we have, we will."

Higginbotham, 22, was signed by Clark from Falkirk on the final day of the January transfer window.

After just one Town start (under Clark) and one outing from the bench (under Grayson), he was loaned to Barnsley, playing five times.

“I’m keen to see what Kallum can do for us in the run up to the play-offs,” explained the boss, whose fifth-placed side aim to pip semi-final opponents MK Dons to a final position of fourth and claim home advantage in the second leg.