Huddersfield Town defender Radinio Balker has cut short his international duty with Suriname to return to England and bolster his club’s defensive options ahead of a crucial League One fixture against Burton Albion. The 28-year-old center-back traveled approximately 5,000 miles from South America to Staffordshire, aiming to feature in the match scheduled at Burton’s Pirelli Stadium.
Balker, born in Amsterdam, participated in Suriname’s recent CONCACAF Nations League victories over Martinique and Honduras during the international break. However, he opted to forgo Suriname’s remaining two matches in the three-week window in order to rejoin Huddersfield for their league campaign. His decision comes as Huddersfield seeks to recover from a recent defeat to Bromley, which ended their status as League One’s last unbeaten club.
Huddersfield currently sit sixth in the table and face Burton, who are seventh and recently thwarted Plymouth Argyle’s bid for first place. A victory for either side could potentially propel them to the top of the league, depending on other outcomes.
Huddersfield head coach Martin Drury praised Balker’s dedication and form, describing him as a key contributor during the season. Drury confirmed Balker is expected to be fit and available for selection, though the team will carefully consider the effects of jet lag following his long journey. The player had communicated his intent prior to the international break, expressing a preference to participate in only two of Suriname’s four matches in order to avoid missing the critical fixture against Burton.
Drury stated, “It’s music to my ears when he's knocking on the door saying that and it tells you where his mentality is. He wants to win and he wants to compete.” Balker’s commitment is particularly significant given the absence of fellow defender Jack Whatmough, who has been sidelined by injury for an extended period. The 30-year-old has played only one league game in the past 13 months due to persistent fitness issues and is currently out with a calf problem, according to Drury.
Burton manager Gary Bowyer acknowledged his side’s strong recent record against Huddersfield, noting that Burton have scored six goals in their last two encounters. Bowyer emphasized focus on his team’s performance rather than external perceptions, stating, “I don’t care what other teams think about us. It’s about what we do.” The Brewers will be aiming to continue their recent success as they host an unbeaten Huddersfield side in what promises to be a pivotal League One contest.