TOWN boss Lee Clark has made no bones about the fact that planning for next season has already started and he got the response he wanted on Saturday.

But there will be no sitting back and admiring the handiwork displayed as they notched a 1-0 win at Hereford – an away victory that was Clark’s first as a manager.

He was quick to praise his young guns, but equally was expecting them to show they can achieve consistently as they went into tonight’s meeting with Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

“There are still players in my squad that I have to look at,” said Clark.

“I have told the players as a group that for me next season has already started and I am constantly monitoring them every day in training in terms of how they train and how they act around the place.

“There are certainly other players who have not had that many opportunities so far and I will have a look at them from now until the end of the season – it is going to be a very busy summer.

The success at Edgar Street finally got Clark’s side moving in the right direction after a frustrating run of seven games without a win and he had plenty of positive words for his troops.

“I thought the team showed real grit and determination, and there was a lot of character in the performance at Hereford – we just have to take that into tonight’s game.

“Our keeper (Alex Smithies) pulled off some great saves at Hereford, but at one stage I thought the game was coming down to a competition between their keeper (Peter Gulacsi) and Anthony Pilkington – he just kept taking shots at goal and they got blocked.

“And Tom Clarke is a young guy who is learning his trade, he is a Huddersfield lad who loves the club and he is a 100 per cent player.

“Whether it is in matches or training Tom gives it all he has got and he will be an asset to the club.”

Given the winning display it is arguable whether Clark will want to make changes for the clash with his former Fulham teammate Paul Trollope’s charges.

However, Liverpool loanee Martin Kelly was on the bench at Edgar Street and Clark was obviously keen to get the youngster involved sooner rather than later.

“Martin has played at a very high level so his arrival will put pressure on the defenders we have at the club,” said Clark.

“He has real quality and he will be used at some point, but we couldn’t put him in the starting line-up on Saturday as the deal was only done late on Thursday and he only met the lads on Friday.

“I didn’t feel he had been at the club long enough to throw him in at the deep end straight away, but he has got to know the lads now.

“And we won on Saturday so he is a bit of a lucky charm for me, so he had better hang around a while.”

But Clark will give those who show willing and ability their chance and Michael Flynn has already been one to prosper.

Out on loan at Darlington when Clark arrived, the 24-year-old Welshman has had to make his pitch in training and Clark has been pleased with what he has seen.

“Michael had his first start under me at Hereford and he showed a lot of energy and was very combative in midfield,” enthused Clark.

And, as far as Flynn is concerned, Clark can expect to see more of the same.

“To be fair I love playing for Huddersfield Town and for the gaffer to show the faith that he has in me has been brilliant,” said Flynn.

“I just want to carry on going out and trying to put in the good performances just to let him know that I am going to keep on knocking at his door.

“The gaffer has been great with me even when I haven’t been in the team and I just want to now take all the hard work from training out on to the field – because that’s where it counts.”