Former England international Carlton Palmer believes that Joe Hodge could significantly enhance the quality of Huddersfield Town’s midfield if he completes a move from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.
According to a report from Football Insider, Huddersfield are nearing an agreement to secure Hodge on a season-long loan. The 21-year-old midfielder spent the latter part of the previous season on loan at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship, where he scored once in eight appearances.
Manager Michael Duff is reportedly eager to add Hodge to his squad to strengthen the midfield, having already made permanent signings of Herbie Kane and Antony Evans earlier in the transfer window.
Palmer, a former Sheffield Wednesday player and England international, believes that Hodge will complement the other new midfield signings and has already demonstrated his capabilities at a higher level during his loan stint in the Premier League.
Carlton Palmer believes that Joe Hodge will fit well into Michael Duff’s style of play at Huddersfield Town, as the club aims for an immediate return to the Championship after relegation last season. Palmer highlights Duff’s track record of playing an attacking brand of football, which proved successful during his tenure at Barnsley, taking them to the playoff final.
Hodge, who spent the second half of last season on loan at QPR in the Championship, has shown his comfort in possession and ability in tight spaces. Palmer suggests that Hodge could excel in an attacking midfield role under Duff, who values creativity and goal-scoring ability from that position.
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Palmer stated, “He can play as an eight or a 10, but his natural position is as an attacking player. Having seen the way that he [Michael Duff] plays, with Barnsley especially, he likes to be very attack-minded, and he likes to play a player in that hole who can be creative and get a goal or two.”
“So it doesn’t surprise me that he’s on the hunt for another midfield player, because Herbie Kane and Evans are players that will play as orthodox midfield players.
The arrival of Joe Hodge will likely bring more freedom to Herbie Kane and Antony Evans.
Hodge showcased his versatility at QPR after joining them in January, where he filled various roles across the pitch for the team. Whether deployed centrally, pushed further up the field, or dropping back into a defensive position, the Republic of Ireland youth international excelled under Cifuentes’ management, aiding their efforts to avoid relegation from the Championship.
Despite his ability to adapt, it would be unexpected to see the Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee utilized in an attacking role if he moves to Yorkshire. This is especially so with the presence of other talented players who thrive in similar positions.
Given this perspective, it would make sense for Michael Duff to deploy Joe Hodge in his preferred role, slightly deeper as a number six. Here, Hodge could excel in winning possession and quickly distributing the ball to the wing-backs or linking up with more advanced players when necessary.
Goals haven’t been a prominent feature of Hodge’s early career, with only one goal for QPR last season and three for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ youth sides during his academy years. Therefore, his imminent move to Huddersfield Town suggests a focus on enhancing the attacking freedom of his midfield colleagues, relying on Hodge’s reliable and energetic performances in the central midfield to support forward pushes.
In particular, Herbie Kane stands to benefit from Joe Hodge’s arrival at Huddersfield Town. Their previous collaboration under Michael Duff at Barnsley during the 2022/23 season demonstrated Kane’s effectiveness when supported by a player like Hodge. Kane, known for his precise passing and occasional scoring ability, thrived in Duff’s system, orchestrating play from midfield and contributing goals during Barnsley’s journey to the League One playoff final.
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