Tough test against Huddersfield is perfect pre-season finale

SCUNTHORPE United will face a rigorous test of their Championship credentials from one of League One's strongest sides tomorrow.

That is the view of the Iron's ever-reliable centre-back David Mirfin ahead of facing his former club Huddersfield Town at Glanford Park (3pm).

Mirfin played more than 150 games for the Terriers before joining United for £150,000 two years ago.

Things have changed dramatically at the Galpharm Stadium since the 25-year-old left the club though.

Former Newcastle star Lee Clark is manager of the Yorkshire club and has had plenty of money to spend by League One standards.

So Mirfin sees the club who gave him his break as a professional as the perfect late pre-season test to ensure the Iron are ready for their opening day clash at Reading seven days later.

"I think they have got to be one of the favourites to go up in League One this year with the money they've spent, the wage bill they've got," he declared.

"But although they've got a big wage bill, they've got good players, and I think they'll be disappointed if they don't get out of that league again this year.

"I think it's probably a Championship wage bill that they have got there and most of their players are probably Championship players as well to be honest.

"It's changed massively investment, player and manager-wise since I was there and Huddersfield will be desperately hoping to get out of the league they are in.

"But I think leaving there was probably the best thing I could have done.

"The last two years here at Scunthorpe have been the best of my career, individually and as a team for achieving things."

Mirfin is looking forward to renewing a few old acquaintances tomorrow.

"I don't think there's many players left there who I played with so they'll be a bit new to me," he confessed.

"But there's still plenty of people at the club that I know though so I'm definitely looking forward to it."

United are now focusing on the first game of the new Championship season at Reading a week tomorrow.

"Obviously you are pleased once pre-season is out of the way and you can concentrate on the league and trying to win games to get as high up the table as we can," he continued.

Last Saturday the Iron beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Glanford Park but they then slipped to a defeat by the same scoreline at York in midweek.

Mirfin played the second 45 minutes of that game at Bootham Crescent and readily admits the performance there wasn't the best.

But he feels the result of that defeat might just turn out to be a positive one for the Iron.

"The performance was really disappointing," he confessed. "But sometimes a performance like that is good in pre-season, so that you can identify things that you need to work on.

"Then the problems can be sorted out but I think fitness is the main thing at this early stage of the season.

"The management know what we need to work on and we are all building on those things to be ready for Reading away.

"Although it wasn't a great performance last week (against Wednesday) and there wasn't much brilliant football, I think we showed glimpses of good things.

"The fact that we looked solid against a decent team, I think gives us a good foundation to build on."