The rise of Welsh winger Sorba Thomas

Sorba Thomas’ meteoric rise has caught the eye of many Championship fans - and the 22-year-old is set to break fresh ground after his recent call up to the senior Welsh squad. 

This article takes a look at Thomas' background and how well he is equipped to potentially fill the shoes of Gareth Bale, who will miss the Dragons' forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Estonia with a hamstring tear.

Premier League beginnings

A product of West Ham’s academy, and originally deployed as a striker, Thomas missed out on a scholarship with the Hammers, and subsequently had trials at both Southend and Barking before eventually finding a home at National League Boreham Wood as a promising 16-year-old.

Thomas has previously revealed that the move “felt like it was the right path” and said at the time that he was persiaded to join the club by friends at Boreham Wood's PASE academy, a sports and education programme.

“My friends were here, and they were all recommending that I come to Boreham Wood and I don’t regret that decision one bit,” Thomas has stated.

Having grown up admiring players such as Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho the then striker aimed to dazzle defences with his trickery and flair.

Making non-league waves

He began his senior career at the age of 17, making three first team league appearances for The Wood in the 2017/18 season.

His debut came on a cold, rainy afternoon in a 2-1 defeat against Maidenhead in 2017, but that low-profile start didn't prevent him from making an appearance in Boreham Wood's promotion play-off final defeat to Tranmere at Wembley, an occasion that Thomas has since referred to as "a dream come true". 

The following season he established himself at National League level making 32 appearances in an attacking midfield role that won him a reputation as a quick and skilful winger with good delivery.

After continuing to develop and impress during the 2019/20 season and early part of 2020/21, Thomas was attracting attention from the EFL - and a move to the Championship beckoned. 

©Getty / John Early

Thomas the Terrier

Although the likes of QPR, Barnsley and Middlesbrough were all reportedly interested, Thomas was snapped up by Huddersfield Town in the January of 2021.

Joining for an undisclosed fee, the winger signed a contract keeping him at the John Smith’s stadium until 2024, and made his debut for the first team in a 3-2 loss against Wycombe Wanderers only a matter of weeks after signing.

The coronavirus pandemic interrupted his early days with the Terriers, but he has made up for any lost time this season and has taken the Championship by storm thus far in 2021/22.

Breezing through defences

Deployed as a wing-back position in Carlos Corberan’s first eleven, Thomas' ability from dead-balls and driving runs have been a feature of Huddersfield's play this term and with six assists already to his name, he has supplied more goals than any player in the top four tiers - his impressive stats no doubt helping him scoop the Championship Player of the Month award for August. 

Aside from his assists, Thomas' passing numbers are outstanding, the flying wideman already with 33 key passes to his name, the most in the division to date. 

©Getty / John Early

Welsh wonder

It's been rather a whirlwind breakthrough, but the Terrier's fantastic form has now been rewarded with an international call-up: Thomas entering the fray of Rob Page’s Welsh squad for their upcoming qualifiers.

Qualifying to play for the Dragons through his Newport-born mother, Thomas could soon be filling the enormous boots of injured Real Madrid star Bale.

Should he do so, it will mark a stratospheric rise and, if he continues to adapt seamlessly to new playing environments, Thomas' future will surely look even brighter. 

📈 Most league assists in 2021/22 (top 4 tiers):

7🅰: Pogba
6🅰: 🔓@SorbaThomas🔓
5🅰: Swift, Giles
4🅰: Power, Gnahoua, J Brown, Matt, Thomson#htafc @htafc pic.twitter.com/KpO1Jnu95c

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 29, 2021