Huddersfield Town v Preston North End - Richard Stearman happy to learn under Carlos Corberan

It is fair to say that when it comes to his enlightening experiences under Carlos Corberan at Huddersfield Town, he might need another notepad or two.

As a footballer, you are never too old to learn and Stearman – the first to appreciate that he is in the winter of his playing career – is acquiring invaluable knowledge on a daily basis under the Spaniard.

All of it is good and some of it is revelatory.

On starting to record information ahead of what he hopes will be a second career in the game, Stearman – impressive during the early salvos of the Corberan era and aiming to help Town end a splendid week in fitting fashion today – said: “It is something I have tried to do with a lot of managers I have worked under.

“Certainly in the latter stages of my career, if there’s something I like, I will jot it down and try and remember what has happened in the session or my feelings on certain aspects of training or games.

“As I have alluded to before, I am seeing a lot of things that I have not before with this coach (Corberan). It has certainly opened my eyes to a few different ways of doing things on the training pitch.

“It is great to learn from and I will certainly be stealing a few more of his ideas, moving forward.”

When it comes to assessing those in the dug-out, Stearman speaks from some authority, having been managed by several vastly-respected figures in the game including Mick McCarthy and Chris Wilder.

The defender added: “I like to take little bits of pieces from every manager. You do not agree with everything that everyone does and you want to be your own person anyway.

“But there are certainly managers who have made more of an impression on me than others. Mick McCarthy was a huge influence on me throughout my career and it is hard not to talk about Chris Wilder at my previous club, which was also an enjoyable part of my career.

“Carlos has only been through the door for a couple of months, but I am learning a lot from him also. There have been a good few and several others who I have not mentioned.

“It is not just learning, but winning games which makes coming into training and work a lot more enjoyable for everyone. It is great for the club, town and everyone involved that things are looking a bit more positive.”

After being part of the journey and an inspirational story in his time across Yorkshire at Bramall Lane, Stearman – now 33 – is striving to now be part of something meaningful in what could well be the final destination in an accomplished playing career.

Last season’s mission of keeping Town in the second tier is not down-played by the centre-half, albeit with the hope that brighter times will be around the corner under Corberan, given time.

Stearman, whose celebrations following Sheffield United’s joyous promotion to the top-flight at the end of 2018-19 went down in Blades’ folklore, continued: “That is why, as players, that we want to play games. We want to be a part of something.

“Obviously, I was at my previous club and also coming to Huddersfield, we were in trouble last year when I arrived.

“Being a part of something does not always mean it has to end in promotion. Retaining our status in the Championship last season – I know people do not really want to hear about that – is something I still see as a big achievement.

“Certainly down the (home) stretch, we were fighting for our lives to stay up and it was great we managed to achieve that.

“But also, you do not want to stand for mid-table mediocrity or relegation battles for your whole career.

“Let’s not get carried away. Let Carlos get his feet under the table and get established. We have had ten points from 12, which is a great little period for us.

“But let’s take on Preston and then the next one and the next one and see how we go before we start looking up. But as a player, it is a given that you want to be fighting towards the top of the table for accolades and promotion.”

That might still be someway in the distance. But there is finally the promise of brighter skies on the horizon for Town if Corberan’s evolvement of the club’s playing style continues.”

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