Preview

 

Sports Mole previews Saturday's pre-season friendly clash between Harrogate Town and Huddersfield Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Huddersfield Town continue their pre-season campaign with a fixture against Harrogate Town on Saturday afternoon.

While the Championship side will be participating in just their second first-team friendly, Harrogate will be playing their third, with their opening double-header ending in defeats.

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Match preview

Since losing in the Championship playoff final, Huddersfield have been preparing for 2022-23 with Carlos Corberan set to spend a third season in the dugout.

However, his resignation last week surprised all concerned at the Terriers, leading to Danny Schofield being promoted into the role of head coach on a permanent basis.

The club's hierarchy are hoping that the step up will be seamless, particularly with a fresh face taking charge with just 22 days remaining until the start of the season.

A week on from his appointment, Schofield has overseen a 3-1 victory over Morecambe, young defender Ben Jackson netting two of the goals on that occasion.

Changes continue to be made to the first-team squad with forward Kyle Hudlin arriving from National League side Solihull Moors earlier this week.

While Huddersfield will again be pushing for promotion from the Premier League, Harrogate are looking to emerge as dark horses for the League Two playoffs.

After last season's 19th-placed finish, that will be a tough ask, but head coach Simon Weaver knows that now is the time to try to take the Yorkshire side to the next level.

As many as nine new signings have been made so far, including three from Saturday's opponents, with Jaheim Headley, Josh Austerfield and Matty Daly all making the temporary switch to Wetherby Road.

Harrogate have lost their opening two senior friendlies of the summer, suffering defeats at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United.

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Team News

Weaver made 10 changes at half time against Rotherham earlier this week, and the Harrogate boss may take the opportunity to select a similar starting lineup.

While a trialist was given a run out in attack, Luke Armstrong could return to the first XI for this contest.

Headley, Austerfield and Daly will all hope for opportunities against their parent club, perhaps with the desire to impress Schofield as well as Weaver.

A number of players - including new signings David Kasumu and Connor Mahoney - missed out against Morecambe due to being at different stages of their pre-season training.

However, they could be given 45 minutes at the weekend, potentially alongside Lewis O'Brien, Sorba Thomas and Hudlin.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Welch-Hayes, Mattock, Thomson, Headley, Pattison, Muldoon, Dooley, Ferguson, Horbury, Armstrong

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Lees, Pearson, Edmonds-Green; Turton, Hogg, Mahoney, Toffolo; Holmes, Ward, Koroma

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We say: Harrogate Town 1-2 Huddersfield Town

Given the upheaval which has taken place at their opponents, Harrogate will be confident about returning to winning ways on Saturday. Nevertheless, we see it as Huddersfield having a different man to impress, something which could lead to a hard-fought victory for the Terriers.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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