Huddersfield Town had endured a disappointing four years sine losing the Championship play-off final to Nottingham Forest in 2022. But they look to now be on the right track.
After a Neil Warnock survival mission was required in 2022/23, the Terriers were relegated from the Championship the following season. Michael Duff, Lee Grant and Liam Manning have all tried to put that right in League One without success.
Martin Drury, however, looks a brave but inspired appointment as manager.
An impressive duo
Drury arrived at Huddersfield with excellent coaching pedigree, having worked at Manchester United. But he was a rookie in first-team management terms, and the big question was less the coaching side and more the man management side: man management, in-game management, managing the media, managing upwards. Could he do it?
The early signs are positive. And he seems to have found the perfect foil in Jon Stead, also highly regarded from his time at Barnsley, who is a bit more vocal – a yin to Drury’s yang.
Between them, they look like a management team that could go far. Huddersfield have flown out of the traps with 22 points from their first 11 games, and are purring nicely as a footballing entity.
The Terriers are one of the top attacking teams in the league, with only Stockport County scoring more goals than their 22. Joe Taylor and Derensili Sanches Fernandes have been two of the best players in the division.
Taylor, a speedy poacher, has forged a fantastic partnership with tall, link-up striker Bojan Radulovic in attack, with the latter building on flashes of potential from last season. Meanwhile, Sanches Fernandes has linked up superbly with Tobias Bronkhorst, his right-sided wing-man with Excelsior in 2025/26.
Matty Young — on loan from Sunderland — has demonstrated exceptional talents in goal, and looks well ready for a Championship move next season. Cultured defender Radinio Balker has found full fitness, while summer recruit Ibane Bowat has defied his doubters.
Meanwhile, Cameron Humphreys looks an inspired acquisition, next to the reliable Archie Collins in midfield.
Strength in depth
Huddersfield have a real advantage over other teams in terms of their strength in depth. The likes of Lasse Sorensen and Marcus Harness have been key players at this level for other clubs, 2023/24 Lincoln City and 2022/23 Ipswich Town, respectively. But in West Yorkshire they’ve often been on the bench.
Similarly, Ethan Brierley is a tremendously gifted playmaker and there may be more to come from him this season. Whether that’s at Huddersfield or out on loan remains to be seen, due to the sheer traffic in front of him, with Humphreys, Collins, Ledson, Kane, McGuane and Kasumu all at the club.
Huddersfield have always had plenty of quality for the level, particularly since the expensive summer rebuild of 2025.
Thanks to the standard of coaching from Drury and Stead, it’s beginning to show.