HUDDERSFIELD Town are today awaiting a check-up on injured leading scorer Jordan Rhodes.
The 20-year-old marksman suffered a left leg injury during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Bury and left Gigg Lane on crutches.
Manager Lee Clark – who has released trialists John Rooney and Calum Hare – admits it’s worrying but is hoping for better news just 48 hours before his side take on Premiership Blackburn Rovers at the Galpharm and less than three weeks to the start of the League I season.
“Jordan got a nasty whack on the outside of his left leg and we’re just hoping it will settle down,” said Clark, who saw impressive Celtic loan man Graham Carey net Town’s goal.
“It did ease a little before he left the ground (Rhodes was carried off on a stretcher after just 21 minutes) and hopefully that will continue to be the case.
“We will have another look at him when we report back for training and, if it is still proving painful, then we will get him X-rayed.”
Rhodes bagged 23 goals last season and has already been on the mark three times in a pre-season programme which continues against Rovers on Wednesday (7.45), when it would seem odds against him being involved.
Clark was unhappy with Town’s performance on Saturday, when 542 travelling fans in a crowd of 1,704 saw Andy Bishop wipe out Carey’s strike.
“It was a wasted day for us really,” complained Clark.
“There were two incidents for us – a good goal by Graham Carey and an injury to Jordan Rhodes – and that was that.
“I’m just glad a performance like this has happened now and not three weeks down the line.
“I told the players that is not the way we go about things.
“Whether they like it or not, we are there to be shot at. In every game we play we have got to be able to handle the pressure because the expectation is big and what we want from them is big.
“Everything is a bit rusty, but hopefully we have now got this out of our system. I’d rather have it to deal with now than in three weeks time.”
Clark had praise for Irishman Carey, who played left wing in the first half and left wing-back in the second.
“Graham is a very elegant footballer as I explained when we signed him and he’s got a lot of ability,” he said.
“He has got a sweet left foot and he will be a massive asset to us.”
On the release of trialists Rooney – brother of Wayne – and Australian Hare, Clark explained: “We thank them both for their efforts but they will not be staying with us.
“They have worked well with us, but the decision has been made to let them go, we wish them well and we move on.”
