Wagner: Mooy knows he hasn't been at his best

Mooy has come under fire from some pundits and fans in recent weeks for below-average performances.

The Terriers have lost their past three Premier League fixtures with defeats to Stoke City, West Ham and Leicester City.

The Australian, who has excelled in the first six months of his first Premier League season and been a pivotal figure at the John Smith's Stadium, has had a huge workload of games for both club and country in the past 18 months.

Huddersfield face Birmingham City in the Cup tomorrow and with a relegation battle to fight, the German could rotate Mooy to save him for important games ahead.

"Even I saw he looked tired the last few games and we have managed him individually in training this week as well," Wagner told media yesterday.

"We have to make the right decisions in the next games, not just Saturday, to make sure we get him back to his best – both mentally and physically as he is an important player for us.

"He is very self-critical too and knows he has not been on his best and that we have to all pull together to make sure he comes back to his best – there are no arguments about this."

DW:  Even I have to admit Aaron Mooy is jaded and we have to give him as much support as we can.

Dictionary definition: Jaded - bored or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something.

So Mooy is sick oh Huddersfield? #htafc

— Oliver Eaton (@OliverEatonYT) January 25, 2018

Wagner said he won't be afraid to rotate certain players if he feels they did, despite facing criticism for doing that last season.

"It's not about rest, it's about rotation and only if I think it is necessary after seeing how the players look individually in training over the next few days," he said.

"It's a case of who maybe needs rotation and who shows they are on fire in order to get some minutes and be successful on Saturday. Rotation happens anytime for us, cup or league, I don't rotate to keep the players happy – I only rotate if I have the feeling it makes sense and we can be successful and the players are able to perform.

Billing says no surprise #htafc team-mate Aaron Mooy tired - had no rest in summer. Dane will do his best if he replaces the Aussie on Sat

— Mark Walker (@markdw1966) January 25, 2018

"If they are not able to perform then they will not get selected – it is very easy and why training is so important to see who is in competition for rotation. Since I have arrived in England it has work, not always but very often, and this is why I have confident in it.

"I remember making a lot of changes against Birmingham last season before we went into the play-offs – it created big headlines, but who cares? Not me. I make all my decisions for the favour of this football club to be as successful as we can be.

"Pundits, fans, opponent fans, journalists do not like it and I can understand why they don't but they are not in the inner circle and understand why, in detail, I make decisions. I would be prepared to make 11 changes if necessary – no complaints or problems with it."