Huddersfield Town have hit the jackpot and Plymouth Argyle will be envious | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town will likely reap the benefits of signing Ryan Hardie, and Plymouth Argyle will likely be left envious of their former striker.

Huddersfield Town have given themselves every chance of achieving a Championship return thanks to their successful winter transfer window business.

The Terriers were seemingly in for a tough transfer window when former loan star Leo Castledine was recalled by then parent club, Chelsea, and sold to Championship outfit Middlesbrough.

However, the West Yorkshire club also acquired talented players such as former Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie on loan from Wrexham, whereas defender Bali Mumba joined Liam Manning's side from the Pilgrims in a permanent deal.

Meanwhile, Manning has enjoyed a strong start to life as Huddersfield boss since replacing Lee Grant, winning each of his first three games.

Ryan Hardie can shine for Huddersfield Town, which will leave Plymouth Argyle envious

Manning's positive start to his Accu Stadium stint leaves the Terriers in the League One play-offs with 16 third-tier fixtures remaining.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of Hardie on loan from Wrexham could prove to be an incredibly shrewd one, as he boasts an impressive track record in League One.

The striker endured a lack of game time with the Red Dragons this season, having joined the Welsh side in the summer, amid strong competition from the likes of Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith.

However, the 28-year-old was a class act for his former club, Plymouth, notching 10 goals and three assists in the Championship last term, even though the Pilgrims were relegated.

Hardie was even more impressive for Argyle in League One, scoring 13 goals and producing four assists when his old side clinched the third-tier title in the 2022/23 campaign.

The former Scotland youth international notched an even better return of 16 goals and five assists in the 2021/22 League One season, which saw Plymouth narrowly miss out on the play-offs despite earning 80 points.

Hardie's third-tier record for Argyle speaks volumes and suggests that he has what it takes to fire Huddersfield all the way to the Championship via a top-six finish.

If the 28-year-old excels in West Yorkshire, it will leave the Pilgrims envious of his performances, as they currently sit in the bottom half of League One despite suffering relegation from the second tier just last term.

Ryan Hardie's presence should solve a major Huddersfield Town issue

Huddersfield are the second-highest scorers in League One this season, having notched 51 goals in 30 third-tier fixtures so far, while only league leaders Cardiff City have scored more.

However, aside from the currently injured Bojan Radulovic, who has produced a return of seven goals and five assists in 19 League One appearances so far, the West Yorkshire club have not been able to rely on their strikers.

Attacking midfielder Castledine remains the Terriers' top scorer, with 10 third-tier strikes this term, despite leaving the Accu Stadium and joining Middlesbrough last month.

Striker Alfie May, who was previously prolific in League One with Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic, and Cheltenham Town, has not performed for Huddersfield this season, scoring just five goals in 26 league appearances.

Meanwhile, fellow forward Dion Charles, formerly of Bolton Wanderers, has scored just two goals in the third tier this season, and Joe Taylor notched only four before joining Wigan Athletic on loan.

Hardie's Plymouth exploits suggest that he could be the man to solve Manning's striker issues, and he will leave his former club - 11 points adrift of Huddersfield and facing a second season in League One - envious in doing so.