Huddersfield Town's 1,000+ minute men who might be rested as Terriers prepare to face Nottingham Forest

The FA Cup provides yet another facet to what is shaping up to be a very good season for Huddersfield Town. It also provides another competition for Carlos Corberan to look at the breadth of his squad.

Last season Town used 39 players across all competitions, a number boosted by an FA Cup clash with Plymouth in which they played what was effectively a B Team. This season, despite going a round further in the League Cup and an extra two in the FA Cup to date, Corberan has only used 27.

Of those 27 players, nine have played less than 250 minutes across the season. Town have a core group of fourteen players who are well north of 1,000 first team minutes and looking at them might give an indication of who might need a rest as the Terriers prepare to play the first of four games in thirteen days.

The top three – Sorba Thomas (3,074), Lee Nicholls (3,060), and Lewis O’Brien (3,025) are Town’s un-droppables. Nicholls will likely miss Monday’s FA Cup tie with Forest but it’s more with an eye to keeping Jamal Blackman in good nick rather than actual rest.

Beyond them is Matty Pearson on 2,896 and likely not resting any time soon. Pearson has been vital to Town’s defence this season in a three or a two but with Levi Colwill out with an illness and Naby Sarr not as trusted as he was last season, it’ll be a while before he gets a break.

Danny Ward will likely need a rest when the opportunity arises. Not only has he spent a lot of time on the pitch but his work rate is phenomenal. Danel Sinani is also pulling international duty in this list and he too often benefits from a break where he can take one.

Here are Town’s 1,000+ minute men in full:

Sorba Thomas 3,074

Lee Nicholls 3,060

Lewis O’Brien 3,025

Matty Pearson 2,896

Harry