David Wagner – Huddersfield will “deal” with injury setbacks

Huddersfield boss David Wagner insists the Terriers will deal with their current injury situation after losing Aaron Mooy and Danny Williams to knee problems.

Australia international Mooy was injured in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal, while Williams suffered a similar issue during training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League visit of Newcastle.

The club announced on Wednesday that Mooy is expected to be sidelined until February – meaning he will also miss the 2019 Asian Cup.

Wagner revealed on Friday that Williams will now also fit out the festive fixture list and could be missing for 10 weeks – but the German is not about to make excuses as he looks to guide Huddersfield out of the bottom three.

“We will deal with our injury situation and we will need everyone in our squad,” he said at this pre-match press conference.

“Injuries are part of the game. We are experienced enough to deal with it. We have to manage it.

“You always know it can happen, but now we have them in a short time, which is very unlucky.”

Fellow midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri is also out with a broken collarbone while captain Tommy Smith has a hamstring injury.

Wagner offered some better news for Huddersfield fans as he hopes to have both Jonathan Hogg and Terence Kongolo back in contention and he called on the club’s supporters to back the team given their latest setbacks.

“Now they know our injury situation I think they will be right behind us,” he added.

“It is up to our supporters to make it clear the John Smith’s is our home stadium. I have every trust in them.”

Wagner’s issues in midfield will be eased slightly with Philip Billing available following suspension, but forward Steve Mounie will sit out the clash with Newcastle as he serves the last of a three-match ban.