Sorba Thomas' new contract sends loud Huddersfield Town transfer message

Sorba Thomas getting a new contract is exactly how these things are supposed to work. Signed from non-league less than 18 months ago, the winger has exceeded all expectations and has duly been rewarded with a new deal that better reflects his value to Huddersfield Town.

It’s hard to overstate just how much Thomas has brought to Carlos Corberan’s side this season. There is a long list of things that Town have done better this season, and a litany of reasons that they have risen from 20th in last season’s table to claim third place and a play-off place this time around. But if we had to boil it down to the bare essentials, it comes down to much better defensive work, clinical finishing, and a constant threat from set pieces.

Town’s chance creation from open play has been largely unremarkable this season; in fact, it’s one of the lowest in the division. That collective high-quality finishing helps that along significantly. But it’s also complemented massively by the best dead ball goalscoring record in the division: 21 of them in all, the same number Town had managed in the previous two seasons combined.

Supported by Danel Sinani, Thomas has been the key driver behind that, with his assist for the Jordan Rhodes goal that sent them to Wembley just the latest and most notable of his contributions. But he’s also been a versatile contributor from open play, appearing on both flanks both on the wing and at wing-back and offering Corberan a counter-attacking option at centre-forward on occasion too.

Whatever system the head coach has picked, whatever other personnel he might want to get in, there is always a way to get Thomas in the side in a role he will perform well. It is only right that the Welsh international should have