Joe Taylor's 'brutally honest' claim on Huddersfield Town exit | OneFootball

Joe Taylor has admitted that he was surprised to leave Huddersfield Town on loan and join League One rivals Wigan Athletic

Joe Taylor has excelled since leaving Huddersfield Town to join fellow League One club Wigan Athletic on loan in January.

The striker has scored nine goals in 13 third-tier appearances for the Latics, which has heavily bolstered the Greater Manchester club's survival chances.

Taylor was on the scoresheet once more when Gary Caldwell's men defeated Exeter City 2-0 at the Brick Community Stadium last Saturday, a positive result which leaves them three points clear of the relegation zone.

Caldwell left the Grecians to return to Wigan last month, and Taylor's form has given the Latics every chance of avoiding the drop, which could, ironically, come at Exeter's expense.

Joe Taylor opens up on loan switch from Huddersfield Town to Wigan Athletic

The 23-year-old has become one of the first names on the Wigan team sheet, but he regularly had to settle for a place on the Huddersfield substitutes' bench earlier this term.

Consequently, Taylor scored just four goals in nine League One appearances for the Terriers, which is a far cry from the strong return he has produced in Latics colours.

The former Luton Town man has been in particularly good form in March, scoring in three successive games against Bradford City, Barnsley, and Exeter.

Meanwhile, speaking to Sky Sports about his loan move from Huddersfield to Wigan, Taylor said: "Football’s a mad old game. If you’d have asked me at the start of the season that I’d be going out on loan in January, I would have probably laughed at you.

"Football can change overnight, and it did in my case. If I’m being brutally honest, it’s probably worked out better for me. One thing I’ve always said is that I’m a player that’s at his best when playing regular football.

"That’s boxing off games, 90 minutes, week in, week out. I think here, I just took my opportunity when it came and never really looked back."

Taylor appears set to start for Wigan once again when they face Reading in Berkshire this Saturday.

The former Wales Under-21 international can do his parent club, Huddersfield, a favour by scoring against the Royals, as both the West Yorkshire outfit and Leam Richardson's men are in the League One play-off battle.

Huddersfield Town have been made to look foolish by sanctioning Joe Taylor loan exit

The Terriers remain just three points adrift of the League One play-off spots, but their current form suggests that the West Yorkshire club are unlikely to beat the likes of Stevenage, Plymouth Argyle, or Reading to a top-six finish.

Huddersfield have earned just one win in their last five third-tier games, whereas Wigan have won two of their last three fixtures, and appear capable of avoiding the drop to League Two.

The contrast in form between the Terriers and the Latics shows that the West Yorkshire club should not have sanctioned Taylor's departure back in January.

Huddersfield failed to score in their recent draw with Port Vale as well as last month's defeat to Wigan, whereas the Latics' recent triumphs have largely come as a result of the striker's successful exploits.

Unfortunately for Caldwell's men, the 23-year-old's strong performances likely mean that he will not be playing his football at the Brick Community Stadium next season, as owner Mike Danson has not allowed a large transfer budget since buying the North West club in 2023.

Meanwhile, Football League World have exclusively revealed that Preston North End and Oxford United are plotting to sign Taylor, so he may not remain at Huddersfield either.