This article is part of Football League World's 'Player View' series, this content strand is where we put ourselves in the shoes of a given player, and offer an opinion-based outlook on the situation at hand…

Huddersfield Town centre-back Jon Stankovic will be looking to repay his manager’s faith and strong praise with more solid defensive performances.

Stankovic joined the Terriers back in 2016 from Slovenian side Domzale, having previously had a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund II. Since then, he has found first-team appearances come sporadically in a time where Huddersfield have risen to great heights only to plummet back down to where they started from when he joined.

In his time at the club, Stankovic has seen Town transform from perennial strugglers in the Championship to surviving in the Premier League, to then go into free-fall and drop back down to the bottom half of the second-tier again. With that much change at the club, it is obvious that Stankovic has seen his playing time shift dramatically from being a first-choice centre-back to more a rotation player.

At only 23-years-old, he very much has time on his side under new Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley, meaning his influence on the side will only grow with experience. This season has seen Stankovic’s time on the pitch limited as Cowley looked to create a strong partnership between experienced centre-backs Christopher Schindler and Tommy Elphick.

Both of these have tasted great success in this division with Schindler scoring the penalty that clinched the Terriers’ promotion in 2017 and Elphick being Bournemouth’s captain as they cruised to the Championship title back in 2015.

However, this partnership has been broken up in recent weeks following the serious injury to Tommy Elphick in Huddersfield’s 3-1 defeat to Preston North End. Elphick had to be withdrawn after 20 minutes after suffering knee ligament damage, which he will now need surgery for. This injury has left the door wide open for Jon Stankovic to deputise alongside Christopher Schindler, an opportunity which he has grabbed with both hands of late.

In Huddersfield’s last outing, Stankovicv helped the Terriers to a 1-1 draw against Birmingham having taken the lead through Frazier Campbell after half time.

It appears as though the Slovenian international will be the replacement for Elphick as he recovers from his long-term injury, in a defence that saw a lot of changes from the unit that went on an impressive seven-game unbeaten run recently. Stankovic will be looking for his first consistent spell in the Huddersfield team since his arrival and eager to repay his manager’s faith in him.

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Speaking to the club’s official site ahead of the Terriers’ home clash against Swansea, Danny Cowley had this to say on Stankovic: “I thought Jon (Stanković) did well. He’s a fantastic professional.

“He’s so dedicated, committed and sacrifices so much to be at his best.

“He deserved the opportunity and is so desperate to do well for Huddersfield Town.

“He’s really team orientated.”

Going forward, it would seem that the Slovenian is Cowley’s preferred choice and the defender will be keen to prove why his manager is placing so much faith in him, by putting in more accomplished performances over this busy festive schedule.