Huddersfield Town winger Sorba Thomas has enjoyed a whirlwind 2021 that has led him from the National League to the Wales squad. 

Carlos Corberan has developed 22-year-old magnificently, giving Thomas the perfect amount of time to adapt to new surroundings before unleashing him on the Championship.

This time last year, many Huddersfield fans would have been forgiven for not knowing who Thomas was. He was pulling up trees for Boreham Wood at non-league level, catching the eye of sides in the EFL.

On January 13th, Huddersfield hit the gas and swooped to sign Thomas on a contract until the summer of 2024, with a further 12-month option in the club's favour.

Initially, there was some underwhelmed reaction from supporters:

Others, though, were slightly more enthused by the arrival of Thomas.

His reputation had been growing in the National League and Huddersfield were hardly putting millions on the line.

The gamble has paid off, with Thomas thriving under Corberan as a right wing-back in 2021/22. He's been ever-present in the Championship, contributing a goal and eight assists, helping Town compete for an embryonic place in the top-six.

A reward for that has been a call-up and debut with Wales, who he is currently working with during the November international break.

Given Thomas had arrived from the National League and the fact he had such a limited impact in seven Championship appearances last season, nobody at Huddersfield saw that coming, even Corberan.

However, Huddersfield were warned that this could be a shrewd signing back in January by a host of rival fans on Twitter:

Mixed reaction, then, when Huddersfield opted to bypass two divisions and take their punt on Thomas.

Fortune favours the brave, though, as Thomas' whirlwind 2021 continues this week with Wales caps three and four potentially on the cards.