Football League World
·13 December 2024
Football League World
·13 December 2024
Colchester United's Samson Tovide could solve Huddersfield Town's problems at striker
After a shaky September, Huddersfield Town have recovered and sit in the League One play-off places, and look set to be one of the sides competing for automatic promotion come May.
Michael Duff's side suffered four consecutive defeats in September, which led to some people questioning the Terriers' promotion credentials, but they've recovered well and look set to be there or thereabouts this season.
With big spenders like Wrexham and Birmingham City in the division, it was always going to be tough for Duff's side to break into the automatic promotion places, but they've laid the foundations to do so and the January transfer window will be crucial at the John Smith's Stadium.
The one big problem Duff has on his hands is that he doesn't have a fit, reliable goalscorer, and perhaps he should turn to League Two in January to solve that problem.
While Huddersfield can't go out and spend money like Wrexham and Birmingham City do, they're still an attractive club for players to join, particularly for League Two players looking to make the step-up.
One of those players is Colchester United striker Samson Tovide, who has been in good form for The U's despite their lowly standing in the league.
The 20-year-old has scored five goals and registered five assists in 16 league games this season, a very decent return, all things considered, and it's taken his tally to 12 goals in 88 appearances for Colchester in total.
Whilst 12 goals in 88 games is nothing to write home about, his form this season has been impressive, and it must be remembered that he's only 20, so he's still improving every season.
Tovide has registered 10 goal involvements in 16 games this season, and he's a big athletic striker who looks destined to play at a higher level than League Two in the not-too-distant future.
Colchester are languishing 18th in League Two and a club of their size won't be able to hold out for a huge transfer fee, so Huddersfield could well pick up a bargain in Tovide, and he's a player who could be sold for more money in the future.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Tovide offers an aerial threat, is strong, can hold the ball up and is able to chip in with goals and assists.
It remains to be seen if he'd be able to make the step-up to League One straight away, but he's certainly worth a punt and, at 20, he could provide a long-term solution to Huddersfield's striker problems.
Huddersfield have a number of strikers on their books, but none of them have been able to fully find form this season, and it's an area where they surely need at least one signing in January.
Duff has the likes of Danny Ward, Rhys Healey, Bojan Radulovic and Freddie Ladapo at his disposal, along with West Ham loanee Callum Marshall, but they haven't been able to score on a consistent basis.
Between the five strikers, they've scored just five league goals this season, and it's clear that's not sustainable for a side battling for promotion to the Championship.
West Ham loanee Marshall has been the standout with his three goals, but he's not a long-term solution as he's set to return to the Hammers at the end of the season, and that's why recruiting a long-term striker is so important in January.
In addition to that, Freddie Ladapo has disappointed, Rhys Healey has long-standing fitness and injury worries that he may never get rid of, whilst January recruit Bojan Radulovic has been nothing short of a disappointment since his arrival from HJK Helsinki in Finland.
Tovide may not be a household name for Huddersfield supporters, but he provides a realistic fix to their problems in front of goal, and he'll only improve in the coming years, making him a sensible signing.