Liam Manning drops fresh update on Ryan Hardie, Huddersfield Town situation | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town boss Liam Manning has provided an update on new signing Ryan Hardie, who is yet to make his Terriers debut.

Huddersfield Town boss Liam Manning has provided an injury update on mid-season signing Ryan Hardie, who is yet to make his debut for the club.

The striker, who joined on loan from Wrexham in the winter transfer window, is yet to make his Terriers debut, amid his continuing rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in the latter stages of 2025.

Huddersfield drew 2-2 with Blackpool in League One last Saturday, amid Hardie's absence, but went on to suffer a penalty shootout defeat to Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Trophy a few days later.

Manning's men are vying to bounce back from their Rovers loss, and will attempt to further strengthen their play-off bid when they travel to Stevenage this Saturday.

Liam Manning drops positive update on Huddersfield Town signing Ryan Hardie

Hardie was handed just six Championship appearances by Wrexham in the first half of the season, and is hoping to hit the ground running at Huddersfield once he is fit to play again.

Discussing the 28-year-old's recovery from his knee injury, Manning told the Yorkshire Post: "He looks good. He's moving really well, and he's been striking some balls and doing a little bit of finishing.

"So, I think he's definitely heading in the right direction. There's a couple of bits still left to do to tick off in terms of just fully integrating into the team, but we're hoping that'll be in the middle of next week.

"He's only going to add to what we've got and is someone that we're really keen and desperate to get back.

"But at the same point, I'd much prefer to wait one extra game and have him for the remainder of the season than rush him one earlier, and then you're potentially losing him for a larger number.

"So it's finding that right balance. Of course, we want to win games straight away, and he's someone that's going to help do that. So we will take a risk on it, but there's also a balance and a fine line to not being reckless with it."

Ryan Hardie could be the final piece in Huddersfield Town's promotion jigsaw

The Terriers sit fifth in League One following last weekend's draw with Blackpool, occupying a play-off spot with just 15 third-tier games remaining.

However, Manning's side saw their top scorer, Leo Castledine, leave the Accu Stadium last month, as his loan spell in West Yorkshire was terminated by Chelsea, who opted to sell the starlet to Championship league leaders Middlesbrough.

Huddersfield's next top scorer is striker Bojan Radulovic, who has produced a solid return of seven goals and five assists in 19 third-tier appearances, but is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Aside from Radulovic, the Terriers' strikers have struggled in front of goal this term, which is a problem that recent addition Hardie can solve.

The 28-year-old was a solid asset for Plymouth Argyle in the Championship last season, scoring 10 goals in 37 league appearances, even though the Pilgrims suffered relegation back to the third tier.

Hardie was even better for Argyle in League One, notching 13 goals and four assists in the third tier when the Devon club won promotion to the Championship in a successful 2022/23 campaign - that record is a sign that when he's fit, the Scotsman could be a real asset in Huddersfield's push to return to the Championship.