Key man Ben Wiles reveals secret behind stellar Huddersfield Town form
Huddersfield Town midfielder Ben Wiles admits he has had a “more enjoyable season so far” this term as he aims to continue making attacking contributions for his side.
The 25-year-old has netted six goals and provided six assists in all competitions to date this campaign, a marked improvement on his figures from last season.
After joining the Terriers from Rotherham United last summer, Wiles made 34 appearances in all competitions, but was unable to find the back of the net and assisted just twice.
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The midfielder netted his debut goal for the club on the opening day of this season at Peterborough United. He has since gone on to score against Stevenage, Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Exeter City, while the 25-year-old also notched a goal and two assists in the EFL Trophy victory against Manchester United under-21s on Tuesday.
Wiles has featured in all but one of Town’s 20 matches in all competitions to date this season, and the midfielder is keen to build on the start he’s made this year following a tough campaign last time around.
“Obviously I think I’ve started off relatively well,” Wiles said. “There have been some games where I’ve gone a bit missing, or had more of an impact. If I can just keep adding goals and assists to the team, that means that it’s a step to winning the game.
“That’s all I want to do, I just want to help the team out, and just enjoy my football, and I think that’s what’s happening this year. I’m smiling more, I’m clicking better with people, it’s just a more enjoyable season so far.
“I think I’ve started to be a bit more confident, and obviously that will come through performances. If I can just keep chipping away and adding goals and assists, it’s only just going to increase our performances, and hopefully we keep winning.”
Looking back on his first season at the club, he reflected: “I think last year was a difficult season all round. I think you need that, it’s not always going to be the case of it clicking straight away, I needed that season.
“So far, I’ve had a lot of success (at Rotherham), so it’s nice in a learning way to have that season to reflect and think ‘I don’t want to be back there’. I wasn’t enjoying football, and it was difficult.
“The club was going through change, different managers, sometimes it’s just you might not suit certain styles or managers. There’s no excuse, that just happens sometimes.
“I think obviously this year I’ve just had a bit more faith and respect gained from people, and that’s what’s given me the confidence to go on and just try and run around, and just enjoy the game of football.”
Wiles came through the Millers’ academy to break into their first team, with the midfielder going on to be part of a side that secured promotion out of League One in both 2020 and 2022.cThe 25-year-old is hoping that his previous experience of getting out of the third tier can be beneficial to his team as they seek a return to the Championship.
“I think obviously it gave me a bit of an insight, because I’ve been in this situation before. I think that’s always going to help,” Wiles said. “I know this league pretty well and I know that every game’s difficult, and it’s different. I think that’s going to help towards this season, and hopefully I can bring a bit of my experience to the team.
“Obviously we’ve got other lads as well that have been in the same situation. I think we’ve got the right manager as well, who’s got the right belief and tactics instilled into us, and the right way we want to play.”