Lewis O'Brien (footballer)

Lewis John O'Brien (born 14 October 1998)[3] is an English professional footballer who plays for Huddersfield Town, as a midfielder.

Lewis O'Brien
Personal information
Full name Lewis John O'Brien[1]
Date of birth (1998-10-14) 14 October 1998
Place of birth Colchester, England[2]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Huddersfield Town
Number 8
Youth career
Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Huddersfield Town 61 (3)
2018–2019 → Bradford City (loan) 40 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:41, 30 January 2021 (UTC)

Career

O'Brien began his career with Huddersfield Town, where he was named Academy Player of the Year for the 2017–18 season.[4] After signing a new three-year contract with Huddersfield in May 2018, he moved on loan to Bradford City in August 2018 for the 2018–19 season.[4][5][6] His signing was met with some criticism on social media by Bradford City fans.[7]

He made his professional debut for Bradford City on 8 September 2018,[8] and later that month was praised by manager David Hopkin.[9] By mid-November 2018 he had become a first-team regular.[10] In December 2018 he was praised by City teammates Hope Akpan,[11] and Jack Payne.[12] Later that month, journalist Simon Parker said that O'Brien was "enjoying an outstanding first season in senior football" and was "a driving force in City's push to get out of the League One drop zone".[13] O'Brien stated playing for City had been "fantastic", that he "felt ready for the challenge", and that he was "happy and determined to enjoy the experience".[14]

On 1 January 2019 he scored his first senior goal, in a 3–0 league win at home to Accrington Stanley.[8] In that same match he was later injured and had to be substituted,[15] although the injury was later announced to not be as serious as feared,[16][17] and he trained in preparation for a league game away at Barnsley on 12 January.[18] In January 2019 it was announced that his loan would continue until the end of the 2018–19 season, after Bradford reached a new deal with parent club Huddersfield.[19][20] In February 2019, following a poor run of results which saw the club drop to second-bottom in the table, O'Brien spoke about his confidence in the players turning things around.[21] Later that month O'Brien was described by The Guardian as a "smash hit".[7]

In March 2019 new manager Gary Bowyer rested O'Brien from first-team duties, ending "a run of 30 successive league starts" in order to be fully fit for the club's relegation battle.[22] Following a return to first-team action, O'Brien spoke about his experience during his first year as a senior professional.[23] In May 2019 he praised David Ball for helping him develop during his time with Bradford,[24] having previously commended Ball for taking him under his wing.[7]

In July 2019, following the end of his loan spell with Bradford and upon his return to parent club Huddersfield, O'Brien was given an improved three-year contract.[25] He won the EFL Goal of the Month in January 2020.[26] He was Huddersfield Town's 'Player of the Year' for the 2019–20 season.[27]

In August 2020 O'Brien suffered a quad injury and would be out for three-to-four weeks, missing the start of the 2020–21 season.[28] O'Brien remain injured a month later.[29]

Personal life

O'Brien grew up watching Manchester City with his father.[14] During his time with Bradford City, O'Brien used to entertain his teammates by singing.[7]

Career statistics
As of 30 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huddersfield Town 2018–19[8] Premier League 0000000000
2019–20[30] Championship 382100000392
2020–21[31] Championship 231000000231
Career total 613100000623
Bradford City (loan) 2018–19[8] League One 404400020464
Career total 10175000201087

References
  1. "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  2. Lewis O'Brien at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. "Profile". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. Simon Parker (31 August 2018). "CITY SIGNING: O'Brien joins on season-long loan". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  5. "O'BRIEN JOINS BANTAMS". Bradford City A.F.C. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. "Lewis O'Brien: Bradford City sign Huddersfield youngster on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. Paul Doyle (19 February 2019). "Bradford's Lewis O'Brien: 'I used Twitter critics as a drive to show who I am'". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  8. "Games played by Lewis O'Brien in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  9. "Bradford City: Hopkin impressed by O'Brien's start". Telegraph & Argus. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  10. Simon Parker (13 November 2018). "Bantams: O'Brien makes splash after being thrown in at deep end". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  11. Simon Parker (13 December 2018). "Bradford City: Akpan hails attacking midfield trio". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  12. Simon Parker (18 December 2018). "Terriers team-mate's rise surpasses Payne's expectations". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  13. Simon Parker (22 December 2018). "Bradford City: O'Brien says team fitness has improved". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  14. Simon Parker (26 December 2018). "Bradford City: O'Brien excited for Sunderland showdown". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  15. Simon Parker (2 January 2019). "Hopkin expects O'Brien to bounce back, as he waits on Payne". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  16. "O'BRIEN AVOIDS INJURY LAY-OFF". Bradford City A.F.C. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  17. "Bantams confirm O'Brien injury not serious". Telegraph & Argus. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  18. Simon Parker (11 January 2019). "Bradford City: Midfield duo both OK for Oakwell". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  19. "HUDDERSFIELD PAIR STAYING PUT". Bradford City A.F.C. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  20. Simon Parker (15 January 2019). "BREAKING: Payne and O'Brien staying with Bradford City". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  21. Simon Parker (12 February 2019). "O'Brien backs Bantams to find answer to spoiling tactics". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  22. Simon Parker (21 March 2019). "Bradford City: O'Brien will be better for breather says boss". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  23. Simon Parker (16 April 2019). "Bantams: Fast learner O'Brien still top of class". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  24. Simon Parker (2 May 2019). "Bradford City: Ball has had role in midfielder's progress". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  25. Simon Parker (16 July 2019). "Former Bantam Lewis O'Brien awarded improved deal at Huddersfield". Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  26. "WATCH: Former City player gains Goal of the Month award". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  27. Chicken, Steven (3 August 2020). "Resounding victory crowns new Huddersfield Town Player of the Year". YorkshireLive.
  28. Booth, Mel (21 August 2020). "Corberan blow as O'Brien to miss start of Town season". YorkshireLive.
  29. Chicken, Steven (17 September 2020). "Ward, O'Brien, Daly - Huddersfield Town injury update for Brentford trip". YorkshireLive.
  30. "Games played by Lewis O'Brien in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  31. "Games played by Lewis O'Brien in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
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