Lees learning vital lessons with Terriers
TOM Lees arrived as the last of Huddersfield Town’s summer defensive additions in August to very little fanfare.
Another free transfer to bolster the ranks, some thought he would be Town’s fourth choice after Matty Pearson, Levi Colwill, and Naby Sarr.
Sarr was coming off the back of a season where he played more minutes than anyone else at the club, so it was not unreasonable to think he would have a part to play ahead of Lees.
Cut to today and Lees is now established as not only a first-choice centre-back for the Terriers, but as one of the easiest names to guess on the team sheet regardless of the opponent.
At the age of 31 his 36 appearances this season, all starts, mean he’s spent more than 3,000 minutes on the pitch for Town so far.
A leader on the pitch, remarkably consistent, but for Lee Nicholls he would be the signing of year.
Lees is loving life with Town too and has been given the chance to play with the ball more than just defend.
As Carlos Corberan likes to play out from the back and retain control his defenders have to be able to pass like midfielders. Lees has embraced that responsibility.
“I’ve just really enjoyed it. I’ve been given the system to go and show what I can do and a coach who believes in what I can do and that’s been fantastic,” he said.
“I’ve just tried to repay the input that he puts in really because he’s been brilliant for me and got me going again since I’ve joined.
“I’m really grateful for that and I’ve just really enjoyed my time with the club, I just try to repay that now for what they’ve done for me.”
The defender along with several of his teammates has been the beneficiary of Town’s approach to physical conditioning this season which has seen several say they feel they are fitter than they’ve ever been.
Examiner Sport’s Steven Chicken wrote about the revolution here, and Lees has been wowed by it since joining.
“I don’t mean it disrespectfully to the other clubs but in terms of how you’re looked after it’s by far the best I’ve been at really, and that one of things I was highly impressed by when I was in the process of joining the club and signing,” he said.
“Just fantastic in terms of the club and the staff, how they look after you, their knowledge, the effort that they put in as well.
“Everyone only sees the 11 that are on the pitch at that time on game day, but there’s a hell of a lot of work that goes into it to make sure that everyone is available and I think that shows this season - we’ve not had too many injuries, and I think the ones we have had haven’t really been avoidable.”
The fitness and the responsibility has suited Lees who is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. He was also quick to point out the biggest reason for that, Corberan himself, who is bringing something different to his game.
“Growing up through the academy system things are always taught and drilled into you, but then it
I’ve just really enjoyed my time with the club, I just try to repay that now for what they’ve done for me