PREVIEW: Luton Town v Huddersfield Town

It was a fairly quiet transfer deadline day at the John Smith's Stadium on Monday, with only one incoming for the Terriers.

That came in their goalkeeping department as Canadian international Jayson Leutwiler agreed a contract until the end of the season having been training with the club recently.

Town boss Carlos Corberan did move two players on though, Adama Diakhaby joining Ligue 2 side Amiens SC and Mustapha Olagunju heading to Port Vale on loan until May.

Midfielder Jonathan Hogg signed a new deal, but the Terriers missed out on bringing in a striker, failing to conclude a deal for Walsall striker Elijah Adebayo, who ended up with the Hatters.

They have been linked with a move for Everton striker Oumar Niasse though, and are also looking at free agents as speaking to Yorkshire Live, Corberan said: "I know it's one position that as a club we are making the effort that we have to do find something for this position.

"The only players we can add to the team right now are free agent players.

"We are analysing all the options that we can find, to try to make the team strong.”

Town were pretty busy during the window itself though, with a number of new additions, including re-signing former midfielder and USA international Duane Holmes from Derby County for an undisclosed fee.

They didn't stop there, also bringing in ex-Republic of Ireland international defender Richard Keogh from MK Dons for an undisclosed fee, Newcastle United winger Rolanda Aarons and Boreham Wood wideman Sorba Thomas.

They did lose a few though, experienced goalkeeper Ben Hamer heading to Swansea City, while defender Ben Jackson was loaned to Bolton Wanderers.

On the pitch, it hasn't really worked for Huddersfield yet again this season, as like last year, they don't resemble a side who could realistically push for a return to the Premier League.

The away form in particular has seriously hampered them, after a decent start in which they picked up two wins and a draw from their opening five games, defeating Swansea and Millwall.

However that victory at the New Den on October 31 was the final time Corberan's team have claimed a victory on the road, as in the eight games since, Huddersfield have managed to pick up just two points, losing six, including hammered 5-0 at Bournemouth in December.

It leads to one of the worst away records in the Championship, with nine points in total from 15 games, conceding 25 goals, which is the second worst defensive in the division, just bottom side Wycombe Wanderers having let in more.

Recently the home form has faltered too, with Huddersfield losing five in a row in all competitions, going out of the FA Cup at home to Plymouth, although they did stop the rot with a 1-1 draw against Stoke City on Saturday.

It means the Terriers are in 15th place, nearer the bottom three than the top six once more.

Team news: Luton have slight doubts over James Bree after he missed the 1-0 defeat to Blackburn last weekend, but other than that, everyone should be fine.

The Terriers expect to have midfielder Jonathan Hogg available after a hip injury, but Danny Ward is out with a calf injury.

Richard Stearman, Christopher Schindler and Danny Grant are also continuing their recoveries from respective injuries, while top scorer Josh Koroma is out for a few months with a hamstring problem, as is Ajax loanee Carel Eiting.

Top scorers: Hatters - James Collins (9). Terriers – Josh Koroma (6).

Man in the middle: Leigh Doughty – second game for the Hatters this season having had the 2-0 defeat at Swansea City, sending off Matty Pearson for a second bookable offence when he attempted an overhead kick in the Swans penalty area.

Taken 17 games this term now, with 57 yellows and one read, wile had 27 matches last term, with 82 yellows and two years and has been fast-tracked to the Championship after spending the 2018-19 campaign refereeing in the National League.

Robert Merchant and Adrian Waters are the referee's assistants with the fourth official Matthew Donohue.

In charge: Carlos Corberan – 37-year-old Spaniard, who had a brief playing career with Valencia CF, retiring at 23, to pursue his passion for coaching.

Started working at Villarreal CF's C and B-teams as a fitness coach, heading to Saudi Arabia team Al-Ittihad a year later.

In July 2013, became manager of AD Alcorcón's Juvenil A squad, leaving six months later, and then appointed assistant at Al-Nassr FC.

Earned a first senior managerial role in November 2016 when he took over at Cypriot First Division club Doxa Katokopias FC, but only lasted three months, as he was head coach of Ermis Aradippou in January 2017.

Moved to England when named Leeds United U23 boss in June 2017, promoted to first team coach by Marcelo Bielsa a year later, before he became Huddersfield boss in July 2020.

View from the opposition: Carlos Corberan speaking to the club's official website: “I think Luton is a very good team, that’s why they are in-front of us in the table.

“They are making a good job. It’s a team with a lot of stability in their players.

“They’ve added two players in this window in Tom Ince and Elijah Adebayo.

“I expect a real battle in this game with two teams trying to give their best to win the game.”

One to watch: Frazier Campbell - Former Manchester United youngster started out at Old Trafford, making four appearances for the Red Devils with loans at Hull City and Spurs.

Went to Sunderland in July 2009 for £3.5m, where he scored 10 goals in 72 games, and then joined Cardiff for £650k in January 2013.

Notched 16 goals in 52 matches as he earned a move to Crystal Palace in July 2014, scoring eight goals in 50 appearances, heading to Hull once more in July 2017, managing 18 goals in 77 matches.

Joined Huddersfield on a free in the summer of 2019, and has eight goals 60 games so far, including five this season.

Friendly faces: New Luton signing Tom Ince signed for Huddersfield for an undisclosed fee from Derby County in July 2017.

He made 33 Premier League appearances for the Terriers, scoring twice, playing 37 games in total, with three goals.

Ince then moved to Stoke for £10m in July 2018, and joined the Hatters on transfer deadline day earlier this week.

Defender Martin Cranie moved to Huddersfield from Barnsley in July 2015.

He played 64 games for the club, including three Premier League appearances, leaving in January 2018 to sign for Middlesbrough.

Luton's head of goalkeeping Kevin Dearden joined the Terriers in March 1999 from Brentford, but left in June without featuring for the first team.

Played for both: Alan Starling - goalkeeper who was an apprentice at Kenilworth Road, turning pro in April 1969 and made his league debut the following season in the 2-1 Division Three win over Rotherham.

The Hatters Heritage website stated: "As a 17 year old, Alan was given his League debut on Good Friday 1970 in a home clash with Rotherham, replacing the out of form Sandy Davie, and after a nervous start won the Kenilworth crowd over and kept his place for six games before being injured."

Was loaned to Torquay United in February 1971, while only made seven appearances in total for the Hatters, joining Northampton Town in June 1971.

Went on to play over 200 times for the Cobblers, scoring from the penalty spot in April 1976, as he headed to Huddersfield Town in March 1977, featuring in more than 100 matches for the Terriers.

Had brief spells at Bradley Rangers and Bradford City, before hanging up his boots in 1983.

We've got form: Luton have had a mixed bag of results against Huddersfield during their encounters at Kenilworth Road over the years.

Town's first meeting was a Division Two clash in February 1953, going down 2-0 in front of a crowd of 25,841.

Luton managed a 1-0 win in 1960, Division Two, but then lost 4-3 in their following encounter.

The Hatters turned around a poor start in the 1960s and early 1970s with three wins and a draw, then going 50 years without losing until a League One reverse in 2004.

With the Terriers winning two of the last five, it means in total, Luton have won six, drawn one and lost five matches, scoring 22 and conceding 17.

Last time out: Luton were 2-1 winners over Huddersfield when they met at Kenilworth Road in August last season, picking up their first home win of the campaign.

The visitors had led through Karlan Grant's goal just after half time, but Town hit back, James Collins scoring from the penalty spot on 57 and then Andrew Shinnie curling in a wonderful effort just nine minutes later to win it.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Luke Bolton, James Bree, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie, Jacob Butterfield (Izzy Brown 52), Harry Cornick (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 87), James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua (Lloyd Jones 89).

Subs not used: James Shea, Brendan Galloway, George Moncur, Elliot Lee.

Attendance: 10,062.

Referee: Andy Davies.