Lee Nicholl's response to 'one of the most difficult things' reason for Huddersfield Town contract extension

Although Grant likes to talk of having two "No 1 goalkeepers", Nicholls sat on the bench for the opening six matches of the League One campaign, only making his first start when Owen Goodman was suspended against Peterborough United last week.

But Nicholls has taken his chances in the League Cup, as the Terriers have twice triumphed after penalty shoot-outs, at home to Championship Leicester City and away to Premier League Sunderland.

Grant knows what the life of a back-up goalkeeper is like, having played only once for Burnley in a two-month loan spell in 2005-06, and making just two senior appearances – one from the bench – in the final four years of his career at Manchester United.

The way the 32-year-old Merseysider – the Championship goalkeeper of the season in his first year at the club (2021-22) – has responded has impressed his manager, and earnt him an extension until 2028.

"It's one of the most difficult things, it really is," Grant said of being a non-playing goalkeeper.

"It's not just the way Lee's trained or his performances in the cup, it's how he's interacted with Owen that's impressed me. It's how he's been one of the first voices in team meetings, that's what's really impressed me.

"It's how he carries himself around the training ground and how the other guys look to someone like Lee Nicholls.

"He's not the only senior pro behaving in that fashion. I could list about four or five and I'm sure you could imagine who they are.

"Although I do expect that and I think the guys know that. But it's not easy to do that and I've seen it go other ways.

"It's not just isolated for that position, it's throughout this group.

"It should really help us in terms of our mentality and driving each other on every day."

Goodman is on a season-long loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace.