Lewis O'Brien takes constant bruises as a compliment in Huddersfield Town's gruelling challenge

If there have been two constants throughout the Terriers’ seasons so far, they are that Lewis O’Brien remains their best player – and that opposition sides know it and will do whatever they can to stop him.

The 23-year-old midfielder has taken more than his share of bruises this campaign. Derby County’s Richard Stearman was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on O’Brien; Blackpool’s Jordan Gabriel got his second yellow for Blackpool on Boxing Day for another; and Preston wilfully took it in turns to bring O’Brien down whenever he went on one of his trademark charges through the middle on Wednesday night.

Huddersfield Town are sure to need O’Brien to take a few more lumps over the rest of the season, starting with the visit from Sheffield United on Saturday lunchtime, and he says he is more than up for the challenge.

He said: “The last couple of games I’ve had a few kicks but I think for me I’ve got to just keep reacting by getting back up and keep doing the same things and not letting it get on top of me. I think if I do let it get on top of me that’s the other team winning.”

Blades coach Stuart McCall singled out O’Brien for particular praise in his pre-match press conference, to which O’Brien replied: “It’s obviously nice because it’s a dream of mine to play football and hopefully try and get Huddersfield to the highest level that we can.

“Some of the other people have said that I’ve been a target for other players to try and stop and it is a compliment when I think the only way they can stop me is by fouling me.”

Town are currently fifth in the table and a victory over the Blades would go a long way towards suggesting they have what it takes to maintain their promotion push, but O’Brien insists he and