Former Huddersfield Town player Jon Stead has admitted that he believes that the club will come back stronger next season by mounting another push for promotion.

The Terriers embarked on a fantastic run of form in the Championship last season which culminated in them finishing third in the league standings.

Carlos Corberan's side would have been hoping to secure a place in the Premier League last weekend after setting up a showdown with Nottingham Forest in the play-off final.

However, Huddersfield will now be preparing for another season in the second-tier after suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Reds at Wembley Stadium.

The only goal of this clash came in the closing stages of the first-half as James Garner's cross was diverted into his own net by Levi Colwill.

Already able to call upon the services of some classy operators at the John Smith's Stadium, Corberan will be keen to bolster his squad by signing some fresh faces in the upcoming transfer window.

Making reference to Huddersfield's ambitions for the 2022/23 season, Stead has admitted that he believes the club will be challenging for a spot in the top-flight again next season.

Speaking to Sky Sports (as cited by Yorkshire Live), Stead said: "You've got to get away from the game a little bit, get out of your own head and refresh yourself.

"If you speak to any Huddersfield fan at the start of the season, did we think we'd be pushing at the top of the table?

"I don't think that was the case.

 

 

"The expectation has grown a little bit but they've got all the tools, Carlos has done a great job, galvanised the squad and it's been a fantastic ride for the supporters.

"The town has come together and been pleasantly surprised with what they've seen.

"It's a fantastic club and I'm sure now they've got that foot in to come back strong next season, hold onto expectation but be a strong force come next May."

The Verdict

When you consider that Brentford responded to a defeat in the play-off final in 2020 by securing promotion in the following campaign, there is no reason why Huddersfield cannot replicate this feat.

With Sorba Thomas, Lewis O'Brien and Danny Ward all under contract for the upcoming season, the Terriers ought to fancy their chances of challenging for promotion as this trio produced a host of impressive performances at this level in the previous term.

Thomas set up 16 goals in all competitions whilst Ward managed to find the back of the net on 14 occasions in the second-tier.

By keeping the nucleus of his current squad intact and adding some extra quality to the team in the summer window, Corberan could potentially oversee a strong start to the season.