Although Huddersfield have struggled since winning promotion from the Championship, they still have had some excellent players that could've got into any Championship side over the last five years.

Over the past five years, Huddersfield has developed some excellent players through their academy and also made some excellent signings both permanently and on loan, from fellow Championship sides and from the Premier League which will all be included in this article.

Although the West Yorkshire side is far from being one of the big fish in the Championship with one of the smaller financial budgets, it hasn't stopped the Terriers from having some real quality at their disposal.

With Huddersfield developing a growing reputation of a side that could make a positive impression on the Championship, under David Wagner for the first time since they've gained promotion.

It is interesting to look at a combined best Huddersfield XI over the past five years, and if players were signed permanently and weren't sold then it's a team that could be challenging for promotion.

With a pool of talent to look at, this article looks to combine some obvious players with some surprise inclusions when looking to make this best XI of the West Yorkshire side from the past five years...................

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE BEST XI!

GK- Jed Steer

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Although the Jed Steer came to the club on a temporary basis following Joe Murphy's injury, he has more than filled Alex Smithies' shoes since joining on loan.

Steer has showed himself to be one of the most talented and well-rounded keepers that Huddersfield has had over the last five years, as he has the ability like Smithies had to pull off a string of spectacular saves as an excellent shot-stopper.

However where the two goalkeepers differ is Jed Steer provides a larger presence in the box and he rarely makes any handling errors even when under insurmountable pressure from corners and free-kicks, he relieves all the pressure with his positive goalkeeping and it gives the defenders in front of him confidence.

Steer is far from perfect, his distribution against teams pressing high can be slow and troublesome and he sometimes makes questionable decisions about when to charge out his goal, and to act as a 'sweeper keeper' however as he matures and becomes more knowledgeable about the game, he'll know when to come out and when to leave it.

If Huddersfield can sign him permanently from Aston Villa then they'll have an excellent young goalkeeper to build their squad around.

LB - Ben Chilwell

Ben Chilwell

Easily the most inspiring signing of this season has been the signing of Ben Chilwell on loan from Leicester City, the young full-back has been a fan favourite at the West Yorkshire club.

As a promising young full back, he showed himself to be composed and calm on the ball and in possession, he is also willing to get his foot stuck in and throw his body on the line to defend for the team which made him likeable for the fans and management team alike.

Chilwell was a constant willing running but also showed the intelligence to pick passes and make space for his teammates when in possession. He also had the speed and determination to track back to provide a balanced attacking and defensive approach.

With Chilwell at only 18 keeping James Husband and Jason Davidson out the team, even though they have a lot more experience than the young full-back shows his potential and quality.

The absence of Chilwell from Huddersfield has been telling and while Chilwell fails to get an opportunity at the Leicester side, Huddersfield fans are rightfully frustrated that the young talent has been recalled but not used and he would be an excellent addition

The absence of Chilwell from Huddersfield has been telling and while Chilwell fails to get an opportunity at the Leicester side, Huddersfield fans are rightfully frustrated that the young talent has been recalled but not used and he would be an excellent addition for any Championship side.

CB - Sean Morrison

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Dean Hoyle has made very few mistakes but one mistake that he did make was turning down the opportunity to sign Sean Morrison.

The centre-half was briefly on loan at the West Yorkshire club and he was a dominant commanding centre-half that wasn't afraid to take control of the situation, and was ice cool under pressure.

Morrison also has the ability to read the game and had the athleticism to cover ground as well as being competent aerially. Something that Huddersfield has been desperately lacking.

Morrison's versatility and consistency makes him a solid Championship defender and he would've been the ideal partner for Joel Lynch and would've most likely been the solution to Huddersfield's defensive problems.

CB - Joel Lynch

Joel LynchJoel Lynch

One of the most consistent and competent defenders for Huddersfield is Joel Lynch. He has become a fan favourite very quickly since joining from Nottingham Forest.

The Welsh international has all the attributes to play at international level as he has the strength and athleticism that makes him so difficult to beat.

Lynch is at his most impressive with the ball at his feet as he has a broad range of passes with the quality of a midfielder, his passing from the back has sometimes led to opportunities for the opposition but the majority of the time, it transitions defence into the attack.

If Huddersfield can find a centre half of a similar quality to Lynch then Huddersfield could move from a mid-table Championship side, to one that can be challenging much higher up.

RB - Jack Hunt

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Coming through Huddersfield's academy, one of the most promising prospects was Jack Hunt.

The full-back had his breakthrough spell at Chesterfield on loan and his memorable moment came against Arsenal in the FA Cup, as he surged past a number of players before Squillaci brought him down as the only means of stopping him and was subsequently sent off.

Although he was always limited at Huddersfield defensively as he didn't look to enjoy defending, and could be caught out when he looked to push forward, he still is one of the best fullbacks in the Football League.

The reason for his inclusion is because of how effective he was going forward with his acceleration and his willingness to overlap.

He also has an excellent crossing ability which is arguably better than most wingers in the Championship, makes him the best albeit attacking right back at Huddersfield over the past 5 years.

LM - Anthony Pilkington

Anthony Pilkington

Easily one of the most talented individuals who has been at Huddersfield over the past 5 years and makes it into this best XI is Anthony Pilkington.

Pilkington was the epitomy of the modern winger as he had the ability to cut inside and has a collection of spectacular long range goals in League 1.

Anthony Pilkington was also excellent in dead ball situations with his corners and free-kicks causing constant problems for the opposition.

His final ball has always been of the highest qulity and this is why he has featured in the Premier League.

Tragically at Huddersfield, Pilkington's career at the West Yorkshire club was cut short after he suffered a horrific leg break aganst Rochdale.

Despite that, there's no doubt that he's still one of the best players at the club over the last 5 years and if Huddersfield had the chance to re-sign the winger, I think the fans would welcome him back in open arms after he left the club in ammicable terms.

CM - Adam Clayton

Adam Clayton

When Adam Clayton joined Huddersfield from local rivals, Leeds United, there was some murmurs from both sets of fans but there wasn't much objection from Leeds fans.

However, Clayton showed his quality in a struggling Huddersfield side as he was the shining light in a disappointing season for the Terriers.

Adam Clayton was appreciated for his bite in the tackle and his reading of the game to sit deep and break up attack, and play the simple pass as he become one of the best defensive midfielders in the Football League.

He was also composed on the ball and had the ability to take a brilliant set-piece, with his free-kick against Leicester in the FA Cup springing to mind.

Although at Huddersfield, he wasn't part of a particularly balanced midfield, he was a midfielder that would get into any Championship side with ease and since moving to Middlesbrough, he has continued to improve and impress as he looks to make it to the Premier League.

CM - Jacob Butterfield

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As Huddersfield's player of the year for last season, there is no doubt that he finds himself in this best XI of the last 5 years.

Butterfield provided the silky touch and class in the centre of midfield that many Championship clubs were envious of.

With an eye for goal as he had a collection of wonderful long-range strikes and free-kicks which were priceless contributions from midfield, he also had the ability to sit deeper and play the playmaking role as he picked out passes that his teammates hadn't spotted, and pulled the strings at his own pace.

Butterfield has been labelled by some as a luxury player as his defensive contributions, although he made the effort to track back, weren't particularly effective however in the right midfield with the right balance, he could thrive and play in the Premier League.

The fact that Derby County paid over £5 million for him on deadline day of the summer transfer window shows his worth and what a talented midfielder that Huddersfield had at the club.

RM - Sean Scannell

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Sean Scannell is potentially a surprise selection considering this season, although suffering from injuries, he's struggled to find form.

However last season, re-invigorated by the management of Chris Powell, he was one of the best wingers in the Championship.

With speed, power and trickery, he has the ability to beat any full-back in a one on one situation, he also has a surprisingly amount of upper body strength for his size which allows him to hold off opponents.

Scannell's only downfall is his end product, rueful in front of goal as he has spurned a lot of opportunities but also his crossing and passing often leaves a lot to be left desired. If anyone can help him re-find his form and work on his end product, that is David Wagner.

ST - Jordan Rhodes

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It would be impossible to leave this striker out of a best Huddersfield XI, as he's had some of the best years of his career at the club.

With 40 goals in 45 appearances in a single season and becoming the eighth top goalscorer in the club's entire history in only two and a half years, the Scottish international made himself at the West Yorkshire club as he'd failed to make an impression with Roy Keane at Ipswich and didn't particularly impress at Oxford United, Rochdale and Brentford on loan.

Rhodes is unusual as the vast majority of modern players have a number of attributes that they bring to their side whereas Rhodes doesn't. He lacks pace, he isn't a particularly good dribbler but what he can do that makes him so expensive is score.

Rhodes' ability to score with head, either foot and the technique he possesses makes him a constant potent threat, he often dips in and out of games, sometimes feeling invisible but he comes alive inside the box and he is clinical .

Despite his move to Middlesbrough, it's only a matter of time before he finds himself playing in the Premier League, be that at Middlesbrough or at another club.

Either way, he deserves his shot and has been easily one of the most talented and sought after strikers outside of the Premier League.

ST - Nahki Wells

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Over the past 5 years, Huddersfield has been blessed with some extremely good strikers and Nahki Wells is one of them.

Although he is often one to face the brunt of criticism by supporters, potentially because he used to play for local rivals, Bradford City. The Bermudan striker is easily one of the most talented strikers outside of the Premier League.

This season alone, only Abel Hernandez, Ross McCormack and Andre Gray have more goals than him and he has more goals than Jordan Rhodes, Chris Martin and Darryl Murphy all of which dominated the Championship goalscoring charts over recent years.

Wells have shown his ability and adaptability to play in both the lone striker role and a two striker formation. Wells has also increasingly improved with his link up play as well having the raw pace to stretch backlines with his willing runs in behind.

With 14 league goals already this season, this has been his most successful season, more importantly, he has scored vital goals that have won Huddersfield matches and without his contributions, the West Yorkshire side would be in the heart of a relegation battle.

Wells is integral to Huddersfield like how Rhodes was integral to Huddersfield when he was at the West Yorkshire club.