Below is the top 20 list of players who have sat on the substitutes’ bench the most time, be it sitting there unused or getting on the pitch and being used. Records begin when substitutes were introduced in 1965.
| 1. | Matt Duke | 228 selections (223 unused, 5 used) | 2004 to 2011 |
| 2. | Nicky Barmby | 121 selections (34 unused, 87 used) | 2005 to 2011 |
| 3. | Eldin Jakupovic | 115 selections (114 unused, 1 used) | 2012 to 2017 |
| 4. | Matt Ingram | 114 selections (113 unused, 1 used) | 2019 to 2024 |
| 5. | Steve Wilson | 113 selections (111 unused, 2 used) | 1993 to 2001 |
| 6. | Sean McLoughlin | 102 selections (81 unused, 21 used) | 2020 to 2024 |
| 7. | Paul Musselwhite | 90 selections (89 unused, 1 used) | 2001 to 2004 |
| 8. | Ryan France | 88 selections (26 unused, 62 used) | 2003 to 2009 |
| 8. | David Meyler | 88 selections (42 unused, 46 used) | 2012 to 2018 |
| 10. | George Long | 85 selections (84 unused, 1 used) | 2018 to 2021 |
| 11. | Tom Cairney | 76 selections (50 unused, 26 used) | 2009 to 2013 |
| 12. | Andy Flounders | 75 selections (32 unused, 43 used) | 1980 to 1987 |
| 13. | Tom Huddlestone | 74 selections (37 unused, 37 used) | 2013 to 2022 |
| 14. | Alex Bruce | 72 selections (57 unused, 15 used) | 2012 to 2016 |
| 15. | Regan Slater | 70 selections (19 unused, 51 used) | 2020 to 2026 |
| 16. | Tom Eaves | 69 selections (10 unused, 59 used) | 2019 to 2022 |
| 17. | Malcolm Lord | 68 selections (39 unused, 30 used) | 1966 to 1979 |
| 17. | Paul McShane | 68 selections (51 unused, 17 used) | 2009 to 2015 |
| 17. | Liam Rosenior | 68 selections (35 unused, 33 used) | 2012 to 2015 |
| 20. | Greg Docherty | 66 selections (26 unused, 40 used) | 2021 to 2024 |