Huddersfield Town head coach Mark Fotheringham isn’t afraid to make bullish statements about the squad he’s inherited at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Despite sitting bottom of the Championship heading out of the World Cup break, Fotheringham feels he’s got the division’s best goalkeeper in Lee Nicholls, one of the top centre-backs in Tom Lees and a set-piece specialist in Sorba Thomas that’s unrivalled anywhere.
In his words, he’s also got the best No.10 in the league in Tino Anjorin. “Tino is the best 10 in the league, no ifs or buts. We will welcome him back,” Fotheringham told a previous press conference, with a hint of frustration that he’s not yet been able to call on the Chelsea loanee since his appointment, owing to glandular fever.
Anjorin, though, is back in the frame and has been with Town on their mid-season training camp in Spain. He played part of a friendly clash with Olympiacos and we await news on whether he’s going to be available for Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United.
A Huddersfield side that struggle for goals could really do with Anjorin putting illness and injury troubles to one side and taking this season by the scruff of the neck. As per Wyscout, he’s only managed 472 minutes of football across eight appearances in the Championship this season, averaging out at under an hour per outing.
The attacking midfielder is yet to play more than 77 minutes of a game this season, which, in fairness, is something he’s not traditionally been able to do throughout his career; he’s a real impact player, who might be able to win you a game in the hour he’s full of energy, rather than a week-on-week 90 minute man.
For Huddersfield, it’s about how much he can impact the game in the time he’s on the pitch. So far this season he’s scored twice, striking a wonderful brace in a 2-2 draw with West Brom, a game in which he played just 62 minutes. Those goals came from three of the seven shots he’s taken on goal this season.
The 21-year-old registered four of the seven touches he’s managed in the penalty area this season in that game, as well as making three progressive runs, accounting for just under a third of his overall total for the campaign (11).
In truth, Anjorin’s impact over the season has been small. His absence is a factor behind that, but when he’s been involved, Huddersfield could’ve done with more. The Chelsea talent averages just 0.38 shot assists per90, 1.33 accurate crosses and only a 30.8% pass success rate into the penalty area.
Anjorin is at least positive with how he tries to play, attempting 4.39 passes into the final third and 2.48 into the penalty area on average. There’s the defensive effort there, too, with four recoveries per90 and 2.48 interceptions. Fotheringham will also push his playmaker to increase his duel success of 40.8% overall.
Although he got just 36 minutes under his belt against Olympiacos, Anjorin won 57% of his duels (including his two offensive duels), completed two recoveries and was successful with both his attempted dribbles. It was a start for the youngster under Fotheringham after what’s been a frustrating period for player, coach and club.
Fingers crossed for Huddersfield that Anjorin can start offering his service that little bit more regularly heading into 2023. Proving Fotheringham’s point he’s one of the best in his position in the Championship would also heighten Town’s chance of staying in the division.