Huddersfield Town v Notts County: Joe Taylor can be 'final piece in jigsaw' - almost 20 months on

Rewind the clock to January 2025, if you will.

Taylor’s arrival in West Yorkshire was accompanied by a distinct air of euphoria.

Town had finally got their man after failing to lure him in the 2024 summer window. Michael Duff clearly loved him, as did Mark Cartwright.

There was the unmistakable feeling high up that the Luton Town forward would slot everything into place in the club’s bid to escape League One.

Almost 20 months on, perhaps he finally will.

The first four games of the League One season have shown just why he was brought in for a decent seven-figure fee.

Five goals have arrived - it would have been six if it wasn't for awful officiating at MK Dons - with Taylor looking the real deal.

It reflects well upon Martin Drury. ‘Brilliant’ has been a word he has used on numerous occasions already; the 23-year-old is carrying on from where he left off at Wigan Athletic earlier this year when he proved a real wow in a different blue and white jersey.

Drury has benefitted where his predecessor didn’t. Through no fault of his own, Liam Manning was unable to work with Taylor, whose loan to Wigan was sanctioned five days before his arrival.

He had to make do with phone calls to Taylor. Then circumstances changed, and Drury finds himself in the chair.

That said, Taylor’s future was uncertain when he returned for pre-season amid speculation linking him with a move away.

It’s now very much with the club; his celebrations after his late brace at Cambridge United last weekend forged bonds with delighted supporters.

Another two-goal show against the other varsity club, Oxford United, also earned him a fair bit of adulation as the Terriers faithful toasted the contribution of Taylor, a former barman.

The King’s Lynn-born player was nearly lost to football after Norwich City released him at 15.

He drifted into rugby and cricket and worked for a spell serving drinks at a hotel before rediscovering his love of the game at Norfolk minnows Swaffham and Wroxham.

Taylor said: "I think as a striker, I think it's really important for your manager or head coach to believe in you. I think our relationship's in a really good way.

"It was a weird one (at the start of the summer), because obviously I'd been out on loan at a team in the same division in Wigan.

"I think, naturally, there's a little bit of interest from elsewhere and stuff like that. But from day one, my relationship with Martin really took off.

"I try to come in with an open mind. I want to be the best version of myself."

On Drury’s approach, he added: "Essentially, it's getting the best out of me every day in training.

"Then, more importantly, it’s giving me a platform to go out there and showcase what I can do and know I can do.”

Taylor’s splendid double against Oxford wasn’t the whole story in truth. What occurred before he scored was telling.

With Town 1-0 up, he missed a golden chance to double their advantage. The gravity of that miss was exposed when the visitors soon levelled.

Taylor didn’t feel sorry for himself. Instead, he shrugged it off and worked even harder to change things.

His header to make it 2-1 was a striker’s goal at the far post. His second, a deadly first-time drive after being played in showcased a player with confidence coursing through his veins and one capable of doing damage at third-tier level if everything is right.

In fairness, Taylor has previously shown glimpses of his obvious talent.

He scored 12 times in 27 appearances in a loan spell at Colchester United in the first half of 2023-24 before being recalled by Luton.

Taylor was then tested in League One and loaned back out to Lincoln City, where he added an impressive 10 goals in 19 outings.

His numbers at Wigan were also eye-catching. He scored 11 times in 22 games and was nominated for the League One player-of-the-month award in February. He won the accolade in March 2024 while at Lincoln.

In the present, he is running hot once again.

"I'm obviously in a really good spot at the minute,” he continued.

"I think it's there for everyone to see. I've come back and hit the ground running, continuing from where I left off last season.

"It's an accumulation of everything. The coaching staff, my teammates and everyone at the club have been brilliant.

"I was away for the second half of last season and I fitted back into the fold as if I'd never left."