Huddersfield Town told to consider double January transfer decision involving Crystal Palace - He has "cost us points" | OneFootball

The Terriers may need to make some harsh decisions with some of their loanees at the start of 2026...

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

With Lee Grant being appointed at the helm of Huddersfield Town this summer, the expectation of the Terriers - considering the investment into the playing squad - was for at least a top-six League One finish, but it hasn't been plain sailing thus far for the club.

This summer, former Manchester United and Stoke City goalkeeper Lee Grant was appointed as the head coach of Huddersfield Town, having spent the previous three years as a coach at Ipswich Town under Kieran McKenna.

There was hope amongst the Terriers fanbase that Grant could replicate McKenna's success at Ipswich with them, with the Tractor Boys having earned back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League in two years. So far, they look some way off from matching that ambition.

Huddersfield currently sit in 8th place in the League One table, and although they are only six points off of 1st place Cardiff City, the Terriers have not exactly taken the league by storm as many would have expected, with their 3-3 draw at home to AFC Wimbledon in their most recent outing summing up their campaign thus far.

The club announced the return of Chris Markham to the side last Thursday, acting as the club's new sporting director, who could potentially make some big calls when it comes to the loan players they have at the club.

Huddersfield currently have five loan players in the squad, the maximum allowed for a matchday, and so if they are to sign any players on loan this January, it is likely that Markham, along with Grant, will have to make some big calls when it comes to potentially terminating one or two of those deals to make further room for manouevre.

Football League World's Huddersfield fan pundit, Graeme Rayner, has shared their views on whether the club may consider terminating one or two of their loan deals this January to make room for others amid the return of Markham as sporting director.

Graeme told FLW, "At the moment, there's a groundswell of opinion that Owen Goodman is not necessarily good enough to warrant not having Lee Nicholls as our number one.

"Many Huddersfield fans think that when we've got a perfectly good goalkeeper for this level on our books, we perhaps shouldn't be utilising a loan space to develop someone else's player, and in the last few games, he has been at fault and cost us points.

"So there's certainly a groundswell of opinion that Goodman perhaps should not really be there, and I would also probably say that maybe one of those spaces, whether it's Goodman or perhaps Redmond, could be used for bringing in someone to strengthen in other areas.

"Two real areas where I think we could do with more options or different options would be, I think, we could do with another centre-back in the mould of Radinio Balker.

"He's the only centre-back we've got at the moment who is capable of making an extra man in midfield, bringing the ball out from the back, et cetera, and if he's injured, as he is sometimes prone to be, then we lose that dynamic.

"Then also, perhaps someone in the number six, sort of central midfield anchorman holding midfield role to cover for Ryan Ledson, David Kasumu could potentially do that, but if we could bring someone in there, that would be good as well.

"So perhaps even making two spaces would be what I would say.

"But I definitely think where we should be looking in January is to find an understudy for Radinio Balker, who plays in a similar way. That'll be really good."

Lee Grant and Chris Markham must make some big decisions over loan players this January at Huddersfield Town

Each of Zepiqueno Redmond, Owen Goodman, Leo Castledine, Will Alves, and Josh Feeney joined Huddersfield on loan this summer, and should the Terriers want to explore the loan market in January further, one or two of these loans will have to be cancelled.

Alves, who joined on loan from Leicester City, has managed just five appearances in all competitions since his arrival in the summer, and has spent a large portion of time out injured, having undergone surgery, and it's unclear to see how big a part he is to play in Grant's plans upon his return to fitness.

Like Alves, Redmond has spent a significant amount of time out with an injury, with the Dutchman having made just four appearances in all competitions since joining temporarily from Villa.

Goodman has come under scrutiny for his performances in goal, but Grant was quick to defend the Crystal Palace loanee, saying, "Have I been pleased with Owen and what he's been giving the team and what he's given the team on several occasions this year? Of course.

"And has anybody been perfect or faultless in any of their games or performances across the course of the season? The answer is no, nobody's been perfect. I'm included in that."

Grant, a former goalkeeper himself, has switched between Goodman and Lee Nicholls in-between the Terriers sticks this season, and although it is doubtful that the Crystal Palace man will return to South London this January, in Nicholls, Huddersfield have a more than capable League One goalkeeper on their books permanently.

Feeney and Castledine have been regulars in the side since their arrival, and neither of them are likely to return to their parent clubs this January, given the impact they are both making in League One.

Regardless though, Grant and Markham will have big decisions to make this January, with the club underperforming but well within reach of the top six. Minor adjustments may be made this winter window, and the decisions they make must be the correct ones for the club's promotion ambitions.