STEAD - 'My Allegiance is with Bristol City'

JON STEAD returns to the John Smiths Stadium this afternoon for his first competitive league game since departing from Huddersfield for Blackburn Rovers in 2004 for £1.25m.

Stead has played against Town just once in the Carling Cup for Sheffield United in 2008, since his departure, and he is looking forward to returning today with Bristol City.

The 29-year-old striker spoke the The Examiner about his return:-

'I`ve supported them (Huddersfield) since I was a kid and I went through their whole system, which was a dream come true.

'But my allegiance is to whoever I am playing for and that has always been the case.

'I`ve been with enough clubs now to understand that you give everything for the one you play for.

'My family are Huddersfield supporters and I`m sure I`ll upset a few if we win.

'But I`ll deal with that if and when it happens.

'Nobody wants to be associated with a losing team and I`ll be more than happy if we can put one over on them.'

Tough words from a striker who has scored just once, from the penalty spot, all season.

Stead had been frozen out of the Bristol City team recently missing the last 6 matches, however he featured last Saturday playing out wide, not his natural position.

City have plenty of striking talent amongst their squad with the likes of Sam Baldock (5), Ryan Taylor (1) , Steven Davies (6) & Brett Pitman supported by lively winger Albert Adomah who has 3 goals this season.

However their problem has not been scoring goals but keeping them out! The Robins have scored an amazing 24 Goals in their 13 games, but conceding a whopping 28 goals!!

City have also had their fair share of injuries this season and a flu bug has also laid low some of their squad for today's game.

Defenders Liam Fontaine, Louis Carey & James Wilson are all ruled out.

So we could be set for goals galore this afternoon - or a boring 0-0 draw!!

#HTAFC

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