Rhys Healey may have justified his transfer fee through scoring late Huddersfield Town winner
Determining a goal’s worth can be challenging. When a team is comfortably up, it can be challenging to determine the value of a consolation goal or strike.
Healey’s late winner for Huddersfield against Millwall on Saturday, though, might be crucial in the Terriers’ battle to survive in the Championship and could even justify the striker’s high price.
Healey joined the West Yorkshire team in January after the Terriers and Watford, two Championship rivals, reached an alleged £2 million agreement for the striker’s transfer to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Healey’s transfer to Huddersfield seemed to be the ideal chance for the striker to show off the goalscoring prowess he had shown while playing for Toulouse over the channel, despite his lack of success with the Hornets.
However, the 29-year-old’s adjustment to Blue and White has taken some time, mostly because of injury. In the Championship, he has made three starts and three substitute appearances. Despite not having started a game for Andre Breitenreiter, he has scored two goals in three substitute appearances.
Healey was a big acquisition for Huddersfield in January, so his benching may have worried supporters who were witnessing their £2 million investment play a bit part.
Healey’s possibly game-changing performance in Huddersfield’s 1-0 victory over Millwall last Saturday, though, may have covered the transfer money, justified the decision, and allayed some supporters’ fears.
Healey’s success on the continent
Healey’s winner could prove decisive in Huddersfield’s fight for survival
Huddersfield would currently be in 23rd place in the Championship, behind relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City, if the team hadn’t found a thrilling late winner against Millwall.
The Terriers now hold a one-point advantage over the teams listed above that are in the Championship’s relegation zone thanks to a header from Healey.
The teams in the lower part of the league might be given a free pass as the season approaches its thrilling conclusion. Swansea City, in 15th place, is currently only five points ahead of Birmingham, in second place.
The narrow margin of survival means that Huddersfield’s late victory—and even Healey’s goal—may prove to be crucial.
Looking ahead at the Terriers’ remaining fixtures
As the Championship season approaches its conclusion, Breitenreiter’s team has to gain ground on their rivals in the relegation struggle.
The Terriers’ home matches against Swansea and Birmingham might decide the course of the campaign. However, Huddersfield had terrible outcomes in the corresponding reverse matchups.
On their trip to South Wales, the club was deprived of all three points; Charlie Patino scored a late goal for the home team, but Huddersfield and Swansea drew 1-1.
On the other hand, Town supporters may be more concerned by the team’s subpar performance against Birmingham in the rematch, as they witnessed their side lose 4-1.
Fans of Huddersfield will be hoping that, given his performance on Saturday, Healey can repeat his exploits against Millwall as the team prepares for a crucial final stretch of the season. If he succeeds, his £2 million price tag will quickly become insignificant considering how crucial it is financially to stay in the Championship.
