It’s not just Huddersfield Town fans who will be taking a keen interest in David Wagner’s new-look side in Wednesday’s opening friendly at Guiseley (7.45).

Holme Valley-based winger and former Town junior Nicky Clee is due to line up for the National League side as he continues his return after a groin surgery.

And the 32-year-old, who played alongside Jon Stead in his early teens before missing out on a place in Town’s academy, has been following close-season events at PPG Canalside.

Clee, who works as a management accountant at Huddersfield firm Fired Up Corporation and also plays Drakes Huddersfield League cricket for Marsden, is himself one of a string of new arrivals at Guiseley, having joined after seven seasons with Altrincham.

Manager Mark Bower, the former Bradford City defender who guided Guiseley into the fifth tier the season before last, has also brought in striker Michael Rankine from Altrincham, former England Under 20 midfielder Javan Vidal (Wrexham) and defenders Ashley Palmer (North Ferriby United) and Danny East (Grimsby Town).

“It’s going to be an interesting game, and an important one for both clubs,” said former District League player Clee, who worked his way up to National League level after playing for Holme Valley Academicals as an 18-year-old.

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“Obviously Town have brought in a number of new faces, and this will be their first public appearance.

“We’ve had one friendly (Clee figured in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Parkgate) but it’s obviously still early days.”

Clee, who lives in Honley, is hoping for a trouble-free campaign after being restricted to 17 appearances for Altrincham last season, when former Town skipper Lee Sinnott was sacked as manager in March and the Robins ended up being relegated to the National League North.

“It was a bit of a wrench to leave after so long,” explained the man who joined from Hyde United in 2009 having previously played for Ashton United and Ossett Albion.

“But the new manager (Neil Young) came in and has his own plans, and after a difficult season, I thought it was the right time for a change.

“While I was feeling the injury early on, we tried to manage it with injections rather than have surgery.

“But I ruptured a tendon during a game at Chester in January, and there was no option but to have an operation.”

Joining Guiseley, whose squad also includes Huddersfield-born former Chesterfield, Mansfield Town, Lincoln City and FC Halifax Town winger Adam Smith, means Clee stays in the National League top flight, having helped Altrincham win promotion from the North division in 2014.

“I know Danny Boshell (assistant to manager Mark Bower) from when he played for Altrincham, and that was a big pull for me,” he added.

“The manager is very knowledgeable and after winning promotion, kept the club in the National League last season.

“Now - like Town under David Wagner - we want to push on that bit more.”

Clee, whose wife Vicky recently gave birth to twins Archie and Freddie, brothers for four-year-old Oliver, will be making a second appearance against Town, and admits he does wonder how things might have worked out had he managed to gain a scholarship at the club.

“I played alongside both Steady and (keeper) Phil Senior, who both made the first team,” he said.

“Obviously getting an academy deal at Town would have been great, but it wasn’t to be.

“I ended up reaching the National League by a different route to many, and I well remember playing for Academicals in the District League.

“My dad (Norman) is still involved there and my three brothers (Danny, Martin and Matthew) have all played for them.

“I played against Town in a friendly back in 2004, when I had a short spell at Wakefield & Emley before I signed for Ashton, and it will be good to face them again.”