Huddersfield Town manager Danny Cowley has defended underfire Elias Kachunga after the winger missed another chance in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Leeds United.

The 27-year-old was Town's leading goalscorer in the 2016-2017 season where the Terriers won promotion to the Premier League but has only found the back of the net on one occasion so far this term.

Kachunga failed to convert a close-range header against Leeds in the Yorkshire derby on Saturday adding to a number of chances the winger has missed for Town this term, causing frustration for some of the club's supporters.

The German has started 13 of the 14 Town matches Cowley has been at the helm for this season, and the manager has explained how important the winger is in Town's current climate.

Speaking to the Huddersfield Examiner, Cowley said: "You look at Kacha and, if you want to see the negative, you see the chance that he missed, but what about all the good work he put in and how hard he grafted for the team?

"The fact is the chance he did miss he pretty much created on his own with a lung-busting run down the middle of the pitch.

"I am a pretty simple man and all we ask of the players is to show a huge amount of work ethic, determination and desire and to work within the structure of the team tactically."

Reiterating his belief the hard work will pay off, Cowley said: "If they do those things then I know, over time, we will accumulate the results we need to get us through the situation we are in."

Danny Cowley's side travel to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening looking for their first win in six matches.

The Verdict

Cowley will be keen for Kachunga's head not to drop and is right to jump to his player's defence in this situation.

The German has got himself in good positions in recent weeks but has just failed to find the net - evident against Leeds United on Saturday.

Forward players can suffer this sort of form from time to time but Cowley is right when he says if he keeps up the hard work will help the side accumulate positive results.

You only have to look down the road at Patrick Bamford, who came under similar criticism from Leeds fans, but after 10 games without a goal now has three in five for the Whites.

Kachunga will be reassured from the backing of his manager and should he continue to start for the Terriers, it will reiterate the faith showed in him by Cowley.