It was clear to everyone upon Huddersfield's promotion just how much it meant to Australian football to have a new poster-boy.

He was on the front of every Socceroos advertisement, sponsoring every product on the market and even the mainstream media were eagerly lapping up the quiet boy from Sydney, late bald bloomer, taking on the world. 

Thing's started off spectacularly well. Mooy notched an assist in his first Premier League match and created a second goal moments later. He was phenomenal over his first few matches; safe in possession but capable of inexplicable passes and crunching tackles.

But soon, coach David Wagner's style began to come undone. When his evolved-gegenpressing style, which worked so beautifully at the beginning of the season, became easily-exploited, Wagner didn't know how to react.

To counter shambolic defensive organisation and a general team-ethos that could fall apart at a moment's notice, the German leant more-and-more heavily on Mooy. The Aussie midfielder played the full 90 minutes in all-but-two of Huddersfield's first 24 Premier League matches.

Wagner's style works hard on midfielders. Mooy often has to transition possession single-handedly, turning quickly, physically battling an opponent before passing short and moving forwards. Following the Australian's equally-oppressive previous season in the Championship, he was always going to burn out.

“Aaron Mooy adapted to Premier League football straight away and he has put his stamp on Huddersfield Town,” Wagner said earlier this season.

“We are very happy that Aaron Mooy is our player and I’m delighted he won the Australian footballer of the year.”

But when Mooy finally fell, the rest of the side fell with him. After their promising start to the Premier League campaign - a start that's now the only reason they're out of the bottom three - the Terriers have lost a whopping eight of their last 11 matches. 

Huddersfield's defensive stocks are barer than ever, they don't move quickly enough as a team and Steve Mounie - who started the season so brightly - has now only contributed four goals in 22 league appearances since the opening day.

Huddersfield have only scored in one of their last six matches and that was against West Brom. Mooy, as the undisputed figurehead within the side, has been partly to blame. 

Two assists in his opening match quickly devolved into two assists and four goals for the entire remainder of the season. His crossing accuracy is a disappointing 20%, shooting accuracy 22% and the midfielder's lost 131 individual duels this season. 

Even in a deeper lying position, given he often takes corners and set pieces in an attacking side, it's a less-than-impressive return for a midfielder with 30 appearances. But this doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to stay in the Premier League.

Beneath the obvious statistics are the comparisons between Mooy and his teammates, which gives the best idea of how Mooy performs among a struggling team with a poorly-executed tactical approach.

Mooy actually ranks first among Huddersfield players for combined goal and assist contributions, first for chances created, first for successful passes, first for passes in the opposition half and first for overall touches.

He also ranks sixth in the Premier League for tackles and in the top 20 for passes and touches - the three key statistics for an influential midfielder.

Mooy's not fast, explosive or agile. These are the traits that Wagner needs in midfield. But in a more stable side, honed to his phenomenal attributes, Mooy could be one of the Premier League's finest midfielders.