Five Town Players Who Could Benefit From The New Five Substitutes Rule
Brady Frost, Feature Writer
Twitter: @brady0894
Source for image above: Sky Sports
With Championship clubs now able to make five substitutions in a game, we look at five Huddersfield Town players who could make an impact for The Terriers off the bench.
It’s subbing time! Following the EFL’s decision this week to increase the number of substitutes this season from three to five in a chaotic COVID affected season, Huddersfield Town, like all the other 23 Championship sides, can now pick more players to come on and impact a game.
As well as five substitutes, teams can also name a maximum of nine players to grace the bench, meaning that plenty of players may get a chance to get some minutes when it might have alluded them in normal circumstances.
The change, which took effect from Friday ahead of Town’s match with Stoke, meant that we saw Huddersfield bring on four subs in an entertaining and equally frustrating match at the Bet365 Stadium. Adama Diahkaby, Danny Ward, Juninho Bacuna and Matty Daly all came off the bench in the 4-3 loss at Stoke, as The Terriers pushed for an equaliser that never came.
With ten games for Town between now and the end of the year, it’s certainly going to affect their ability to name the same starting XI for every fixture. In this article, we’ll look at five players we think who will benefit from the change and work out how they can make their mark.
Álex Vallejo has yet to play for Huddersfield Town this season, but will expect to feature soon. Photo source: HTAFC
1. Álex Vallejo
Position: Midfield
Age: 28
How: Midfield cover
Signed as a free agent in October, defensive midfielder Álex Vallejo is seen as cover for Jonathan Hogg, who has had a remarkable season so far. Ahead of the Stoke game, Hogg had completed the most passes as a midfielder in the Championship with 575. Yet you could argue that maybe Hogg’s resurgence is down to having competition in Vallejo, and with Hogg’s long-standing knee issue, the 6 ft 3 in Spaniard is sure to get a chance this season.
With Hogg at fault in the build-up to Stoke’s second goal by giving the ball away, and with the games coming thick and fast, Vallejo will surely see some minutes between now and the end of the year. Add his height into a midfield that this season is quite small, then his impact off the bench to help deal with aerial threats and help see matches out could prove vital.
Phillips has ten goals in six games for the Town B team. Photo source: HTAFC
2. Kieran Phillips
Position: Striker
Age: 20
How: Firepower from the bench
One of the famous five strikers at the club, Kieran Phillips’ form is how the kids would describe as ‘fire emoji’ at the moment. Ten goals in six games for the Town B team, it’s looking promising for the young striker who the club re-signed from Everton last year.
Carlos Corberán has mentioned how they need to manage Phillips’ minutes with him suffering from injuries in the past, including a horrific knee injury in 2016. However, if he continues his form with the B Team then he will feature in matchday squads for the first team soon enough.
With Fraizer Campbell, Danny Ward and Josh Koroma ahead of him in the pecking order, it looks unlikely that he will start for the first team unless injuries or loss of form from any of that trio, but he could see action in the latter stages of the game when The Terriers need a goal.
Daly has been named on the bench in Huddersfield’s last three matches. Photo source: HTAFC
3. Matty Daly
Position: Midfield
Age: 19
How: Midfield Flair
Named on the bench in Huddersfield’s last three matches, Matty Daly has come on in two of these three appearances, but both appearances were in the last ten minutes of the match, when it’s difficult for any player to make an impact in that time.
A player who’s been on the fringes of the first team for some time now, this intense fixture period between now and the new year is arguably make or break time for the young midfielder. With Alex Pritchard yet to make a consistent run together in his time under Cowley and Corberán so far due to injury, attacking midfielder Daly should get opportunities to make his case.
It’s nearly a year ago since the young midfielder scored the injury time winner against Charlton. Both Daly and the club will be disappointed that he’s not kicked on since that moment, but his previous boss Cowley was reluctant to throw in youngsters in a relegation-threatened season unless absolutely necessary.
His ability to drive forward and contribute with goals in the development team and B Team means he has what fans have been asking for, creating and making chances, but it’s hard to say whether he can make the step up to the first team based on so few appearances. Having been with The Terriers for five years now, here’s hoping that this can be his breakout season.
Edmonds-Green has also featured on the bench for Town this season. Photo source: HTAFC
4. Rarmani Edmonds-Green
Position: Defender
Age: 21
How: Ball playing defender
Rarmani Edmonds-Green is highly thought of at the club and after an impressive second half season loan with League Two champions Swindon last campaign, he looks set to play a part for The Terriers sooner rather than later.
With Corberán regularly altering his formations depending on the opposition and during games, Rarmani could be a key player to help the manager change his tactics during the game. Like Daly, he impressed in the match against Charlton last season, playing the full 90 minutes at right back and also like Daly, didn’t see much first team action after that for Town.
Coming back from injury and being brought back up to speed under Corberán’s new methods means he’s not featured so far. Yet, Edmonds-Green’s ability to play as a right back and at centre back, and his ability to play out from the back means he’s likely to benefit from the new subs rule, or even force his way into the starting lineup.
Jaden Brown should get his chance to play for the first team this season, even with Harry Toffolo in the way. Photo source: HTAFC
5. Jaden Brown
Position: Defender
Age: 21
How: Toffolo back up
Harry Toffolo is definitely Huddersfield’s player of the season so far, but even though Toffolo has played over 100 consecutive appearances, there is a possibility where Toffolo gets injured or needs a rest. Look at Pipa, who’s been ruled out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury after making an impressive start. Most of Town’s attacks have involved its wing backs this season and it’s key for the right personnel to be there to get something out of matches.
Jaden Brown’s biggest crime has been that he’s not Harry Toffolo. Last season, when The Terriers were having a left back crisis, Brown, who moved to the club in January 2019 from Tottenham and spent time on loan at Exeter City, came in and impressed. He then got injured after a good run in the side and didn’t look the same. Toffolo came in, and well, you know the rest.
Inconsistency is to be expected from young players and Brown has only played 14 games for The Terriers, so will need a good run to be brought up to speed. You could argue that Toffolo at left back is the only 100% guaranteed name on the teamsheet at the moment, but there will be a moment for Jaden in this run of fixtures to show what he’s worth, whether that’s as Toffolo’s replacement or sharing the pitch with him.
Do you agree with the five names we’ve chosen? Who would you have picked instead? Let us know on Twitter.
