Point to prove

Chomping at the bit . . . Anthony Gerrard in the thick of it.

PENT-UP frustration will power the engine of self-proclaimed old-school defender Anthony Gerrard when he returns to the senior game for Athletic at Crewe tomorrow.

The uncompromising Huddersfield Town centre-back (29) yesterday signed the paperwork on an emergency loan running until the end of the season.

The ex-Hull and Cardiff man’s clear brief is to provide much-needed vocal leadership on the field — and to help shore up a defence that has sprung more leaks than a colander.

Take out the clean sheet at Port Vale and the ugly truth is that 15 goals have been conceded by Athletic in the last five fixtures.

That is an unsustainable record for any club aiming to better its lot.

The puzzle is why exactly Huddersfield have chosen not to call on Gerrard this season despite their own defensive woes. Only Fulham and Blackpool have let in more goals in the Championship than Chris Powell’s side.

Clearly, with Gerrard banished to train and play with the under-21s squad at the John Smith’s Stadium, his face does not fit.

Only politeness is preventing him from detailing exactly how wronged he feels by the treatment meted out.

But with his contract running out in the summer, he knows there is no way back.

“I couldn’t quite put it into context for paper talk how frustrating it has been, to be honest,” said Gerrard, who is approaching the end of his three-year deal at Huddersfield.

“From being an ever-present for the last two seasons, to being told I am not needed.

“I wouldn’t mind if the club were pulling up trees. But Huddersfield have the third worst defensive record in the league so not to be given a chance is a bitter pill to swallow.

“I am here to show everyone, he is fit, he is back and he has been ready to play for 16 or 17 weeks.

“Hopefully, Oldham will be the beneficiaries of that.”

Contrary to the belief of some, Gerrard’s strong personality is believed to have had a positive impact on younger players at the Championship club.

With George Elokobi and Liam Kelly missing, his influence should allow manager Dean Holden to concentrate on matters other than trying to organise every aspect of the team’s defensive shape from within the technical area.

The cousin of Liverpool captain Steven, Gerrard has shown that he is able to handle adversity.

He missed a penalty in the League Cup final shoot-out of 2012 for Cardiff against Liverpool, allowing his famous relative the glory of taking the trophy.

His Bluebirds career never recovered and after leaving for Huddersfield the following season, Gerrard hit out at then-manager Malky Mackay.

“I didn’t see it at the time but that manager took everything away from me — my self-confidence and my self-belief,” the former Everton trainee said.

No doubt playing in the Conference for Accrington and League One for Walsall on his way up in the game has helped shape a down-to-earth mindset.

While there are no airs and graces, there is no lack of self-esteem any longer, either.

“You have to know your surroundings, where you have come from and where you could potentially go back to,” Gerrard said, refuting suggestions that League One is beneath him now.

“I have something to prove to myself and to other people.

“It is different if you get the opportunity somewhere and you don’t take it. That is down to you.

“If you haven’t been given the opportunity then that is just narrow-mindedness and being too busy listening to other people’s opinions rather than making your own.

“That was the case at Huddersfield. But that has been and gone now and I am not going to be there next year.

“It is about my future now and I am playing for it, basically.

“I have come to Oldham to show people what I am capable of.”