Sean Roughan has opened up on the most difficult spell of his career so far, reflecting on frustration, patience and belief during a testing few months away from regular football.
Speaking to Exaiminer Live, our academy graduate has admitted that being out of the team has been tough, given his previous game time under Michael Skubala.
Patience tested after ever-present Lincoln spell
Roughan’s move away from Sincil Bank came after three seasons of remarkable consistency. Across his City career, the defender made 149 appearances for City, including every single minute of last season’s League One campaign. Reliability was his calling card, availability his greatest strength.
That context makes the past few months all the more jarring. After starting ten of Huddersfield’s opening 15 matches in all competitions during August and September, opportunities dried up sharply. The autumnal months brought just one start in nine games, limited to EFL Trophy outings as Ruben Roosken established himself at left back.
He has since returned to the starting line-up for games against Northampton and Wigan, but did not shy away from the emotional toll his omission had on him.
“It’s probably been up there with the toughest parts of my career,” he said. “Going in day in day out training, and as a footballer, you want to play games, and to have not been able to do that the last couple of months or whatever, it’s been tough.”
There will be plenty of City fans who recognise that mindset. Roughan was never one to hide, never one to shirk responsibility, and that same mentality now defines how he has handled being on the outside looking in.
Perspective, professionalism and belief
Rather than pointing fingers, Roughan framed the situation with perspective and self-awareness, acknowledging the manager’s position and the form of the player keeping him out.
“You’ve got to look at the bigger picture,” he explained. “Obviously the manager has a tough job, and he has to pick 11 players, and up against Ruben, Ruben’s done well, so I’ve had to just bide my time a little bit.”
“There are days where you think you’re hard done by, but I think you’ve got to just remind yourself how lucky you are, and the position you are in, because a lot of people would love to be in it.”
Since December began, Roughan has started three of Huddersfield’s four fixtures, including games against City, Northampton and Wigan, suggesting that patience may finally be paying off.
“You’ve kind of just got to remind yourself, and try and put a smile on your face and keep going,” he added. “There will be times, and it’s not going to be out of the team all the time, and I’m going to be playing, so it’s about trying to wait for your moment and try and jump on it when you can.”
Huddersfield currently sit ninth in League One, four points outside the play-offs following a 1-1 draw with Wigan.
Three out of four ain’t bad
Of the four big names to leave the club over the summer, only the million-pound export Jovon Makama has really landed with any sort of impact. Paudie O’Connor has had a spell out of the side at Reading and has received some criticism of late as the Royals have tumbled down the table.
Ethan Erhahon has started three of Bolton’s last four games, but one of those was the EFL Trophy, and in the last two, he has been withdrawn with time remaining.
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