Old-boy Abbott is raring to go

PAWEL ABBOTT: Looking forward to facing his former club.

PAWEL ABBOTT can’t hide his excitement ahead of taking on former club Huddersfield Town on Sunday.

The 27-year-old striker, who has six goals in Athletic colours this season, netted 48 times in 111 appearances for the West Yorkshire side before being sold on to Swansea City two years ago.

This Sunday’s clash at Boundary Park is the first occasion on which Abbott has taken to the field against Town since his departure.

And the former Poland under-21s star reckons his current form is up there with the best he showed while at the Galpharm Stadium.

“You can lie and say things like ‘every game is the same’ but this will be my first time against them and it is nice,” said ex-Darlington man Abbott, who missed out through injury when the Quakers played Huddersfield in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round last season.

“I did really enjoy my time there at Huddersfield and scored a lot of goals — it was the best part of my career. But I think that at the moment, I am probably playing as well as I did when I was there.”

STRUGGLE

Along with Andy Holdsworth and Keigan Parker, Abbott is one of three former Huddersfield players set to take to the field this weekend, with unlucky ex-Town captain Jon Worthington missing out as a result of an ankle ligament injury which will keep him out of action until the New Year.

Athletic’s top scorer has his own fitness concern and is currently playing on despite needing a hernia operation.

For the time being — the date for his surgery is not yet known — it is a situation he feels comfortable with.

“It is stiff during the week and after games but once you are out there on the pitch you forget about it,” added Abbott.

“The adrenalin keeps you going while playing and then after the game, that is where I struggle. But I am working hard with the two physios Jon (Guy) and Marc (Czuczman) to keep on top of it and go on as long as I can.”

n SEASON ticket holders can buy their tickets for the home Leeds United FA Cup tie online through the www.oldhamathletic website.

The ticket office is still open for season ticket holders to purchase in person, from 9am to 5pm today and Friday and then 9am to noon on Saturday, before they go on general sale.