Huddersfield Town and ex-Rotherham United midfielder Ben Wiles on missing out on Burnley switch, a 'difficult year' and getting out of 'comfort zone'

After helping the Millers to a notable League One promotion and Papa John’s Trophy double towards the end of previous campaign - a season when he found the net on ten occasions - the Swinton lad readily accepts that he was not prepared for what came next.

Now with Huddersfield Town, the midfielder, who joined the Terriers in late August for a seven-figure fee, now looks back on that time as a learning curve and a reminder that things can soon change in football.

Wiles was the subject of several big-money bids from Burnle in the summer of 2022, which were rejected by Rotherham and candidly admits that things affected him for a time last year.

To compound matters, a testing season from a personal perspective would take another significant turn for the worse when he suffered a serious ankle injury in the Millers’ Boxing Day fixture against Stoke City which required surgery and ruled him out until mid-April.

The fates have decreed that Wiles is now stepping out in the blue and white of Huddersfield and not the claret and blue of Burnley in the Premier League.

Water has gone under the bridge in the past year or so and the 24-year-old is admirably not thinking about what might have been.

He remains philosophical and that’s how footballers must be, in the final analysis. Focus on what they can control.

Wiles told The Yorkshire Post: “Don’t get me wrong, I think anyone in that situation would find it difficult.

"My young age could have affected it and I think I should have handled it a little bit better in terms of performances.

"But sometimes, things just play on your mind a lot and in the moment, it did.

"When I was at Rotherham, I kind of accepted it. It is what it is and things happen in life and you can’t change it.

"Then I was on my form (again) and scoring goals and got my injury, which didn’t help and put me out for the rest of the season.

"It was a difficult year to accept with the chance of going to a massive club like that and potentially playing in the Premier League to then be sat at home with my feet up because I can’t do anything.

"But listen, that’s how life goes. You have your ups and downs and hopefully, I have more ups to come and that’s all down to my performances.

"It is what it is now and I can’t change that. I am just looking forward to kicking on with Huddersfield.”

Approaching his mid-twenties, Wiles, whose Millers contract was up next summer, had mentally prepared himself for moving on at some point this season.

After being a regular for the best part of five years, he was eager to sample something else.

There was also a financial consideration for his club to consider.

Rotherham had triggered a one-year extension clause in Wiles's contract to protect themselves from potentially losing him for nothing next summer and did the pragmatic thing in cashing in on their asset late on in the summer window.

It ended up being a move which suited both parties and when Huddersfield came calling, it seemed a natural break.

He continued: "It was getting a bit complacent at Rotherham and I think other people would admit that and for myself and learning, I knew it was the time and as a person I wanted to experience something new and venture out of my comfort zone - in terms of meeting new people.

"Everyone goes through it in life and it was time for me to do that.

"Most definitely that kind of made my mind up to move on. I just knew it was the right time and feeling.

"The club itself was changing and I knew it was time to experience something new, which everyone else does in life - whether it’s a different job or country."

Wiles has shown glimpses of what he brings to the table during the early weeks of his time in West Yorkshire, with his energy and endeavour having marked him out as a shrewd signing.

It also compliments Town's existing options in the centre of the pitch, with the midfield 'screen' which captain Jonathan Hogg naturally provides enabling himself and Jack Rudoni to get forward and express themselves.

The chemistry looks promising.

Wiles added: "Don’t get me wrong, it was a good three at Rotherham where I had the success as well. But to come in at Huddersfield with this three, it’s comfortable and similar.

"Hoggy is there all the time and works so hard and gives you licence to go forward and I think we get on really well as a trio and know each other’s jobs if we have to replace each other.

"Hopefully we can bring success to the team and start adding goals."