Strikers target next level

TWO goal-getters with Athletic connections will go head-to-head tomorrow in the npower League One play-off final between Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United at Wembley (3pm kick-off).

In the blue corner stands Jordan Rhodes. The prolific striker, son of former Boundary Park favourite Andy, began his life at the Royal Oldham Hospital and has an incredible 40 goals to his name this season for Huddersfield.

The last of those came in the semi-final second leg against MK Dons. Simon Grayson’s side came through 3-2 on aggregate after a two-goal first leg victory at stadium:mk, setting up a second successive appearance in the promotion decider.

“It’s great to get to the final and great to be a game away from promotion,” said Rhodes.

“We haven’t achieved anything yet. We aren’t in the next division.

“It is an exciting prospect, but we have to go there with the mentality of working as hard as we can and playing to the best of our ability.”

In the red corner, Chris Porter is the man United have charged with finding the net as they bid to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The 28-year-old from Wigan was a goal hero at Athletic, scoring 23 times in 2005-06, before turning villain when his exit to Motherwell resulted in the club receiving no compensation as the result of a cross-border transfer.

Since returning to England with Derby and United, Porter’s career has stalled.

Now, though, with the Blades desperately short of forwards having lost the services of the jailed Ched Evans, Porter has been cast into the limelight. He responded by netting the only goal of the tie against Stevenage at Bramall Lane to send the Blades through.