Meet the opposition | Huddersfield Town
As Swansea City prepare to host Huddersfield Town, we take a closer look at the Terriers.
What’s their story?
Established in 1908, Huddersfield Town were admitted to the Football League in 1910.
The most successful period in their history followed in the 1920s as, under the guidance of Herbert Chapman, the won the First Division title three seasons in a row in 1924, 1925 and 1926.
They were FA Cup winners in 1922, and were beaten finalists in 1928, 1930 and 1938.
A Premier League outfit as recently as 2019, this is the Terriers’ fourth season back in the second tier.
They came agonisingly close to a top-flight return under Carlos Corberan last term, but were defeated by Nottingham Forest in the play-off final at Wembley.
How's their form?
Improving at the right time. Huddersfield are unbeaten in their last five games and have taken three wins and two draws from them to climb out of the relegation zone.
All of those results have come against sides in the promotion picture in Norwich, Millwall, Middlesbrough, Watford and Blackburn.
They have won their last two away games at The Den and Vicarage Road.
Who’s the gaffer?
Neil Warnock. Something of a promotion specialist, Warnock has this time being tasked with keeping Huddersfield in the second tier.
It is not his first time in charge of the Terriers. Indeed, some Swans fans will recall that as long ago as 1994 they were locking horns with Warnock’s Huddersfield Town side at Wembley as Frank Burrows’ men won the Football League Trophy.
The 74-year-old had retired, but there is no sign of the fire dimming for the passionate Yorkshireman.
The former winger started in management with Gainsborough Trinity in 1980, and has since managed Burton, Scarborough, Notts County, Torquay, Huddersfield, Plymouth, Oldham, Bury, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, QPR, Leeds, Rotherham, Cardiff and Middlesbrough before his return to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Who’s the captain?
Jonathan Hogg. The abrasive midfielder has been with the Terriers since 2013 and has racked up over 300 appearances since joining from Watford.
He was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2021, as he was during the 2016-17 season as they were promoted to the Premier League.
An Aston Villa youth product who has also featured for Darlington and Portsmouth, Hogg's experience and work-rate make him a valuable asset in the middle of the park.
Who are the key men?
Defender Matty Pearson has been a key figure in the recent run of results that has boosted Huddersfield’s survival hopes.
He has scored four goals in their last three games, netting a brace in the victory over Middlesbrough, and following that up with goals against Watford and Blackburn.
The 29-year-old started his career with Blackburn Rovers before joining Rochdale after a loan spell with Lincoln.
Stints at Halifax, Accrington Stanley and Barnsley followed before he joined Luton in 2018.
He spent three years with the Hatters, helping them secure promotion from League One in 2019 and then establish themselves in the Championship.
He joined Huddersfield in the summer of 2021.
Midfielder Jack Rudoni has been another influential player in Huddersfield’s revival under Warnock.
The 21-year-old joined the Terriers last summer from AFC Wimbledon, and has appeared in all 41 of their Championship fixtures this season.
He has scored twice in their last two games, and has also weighed in with five assists across the course of the season.
Rudoni was on the books of Crystal Palace as a youngster, but joined Wimbledon after being released by the Eagles as an 11-year-old.
He signed his first pro deal in 2019, and impressed last season despite their relegation to League Two, scoring 10 goals.
David Kasumu is a player well known to Swans’ boss Russell Martin given he spent his entire career with MK Dons – and worked under the former Scotland international – prior to his move to West Yorkshire last summer.
Kasumu joined the Dons as a 12-year-old and worked his way through the ranks to make his senior debut in 2016 in an EFL Cup tie against Newport County.
The 23-year-old continued to progress and became a key figure for the Dons during their promotion push during the 2021-22 season.
Having elected against signing a new contract, he joined Huddersfield as a free agent in the summer and the Terriers have had four managers during his time at the club; Carlos Corberan, Danny Schofield, Mark Fortheringham and Neil Warnock.
It has been a challenging campaign but Kasumu has stood up to be counted.