"Reality might be slightly tougher" - Exclusive: David Prutton issues claim on David Wagner's potential Huddersfield Town return | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively to FLW, David Prutton shares his feelings on the possibility of David Wagner returning to Huddersfield Town.

David Prutton is enthused by the growing speculation that David Wagner could be making a sensational return to Huddersfield Town.

Huddersfield finished the 2024/25 season 10th in League One and 14 points adrift of the top six. Their decision to sack Michael Duff and appoint Jon Worthington on an interim basis did not work out, and the club are on the lookout for a replacement now.

A report from talkSPORT over the last week has indicated that Huddersfield are ready to offer Wagner a return to the club that he led to the Premier League against the odds in 2016/17.

David Prutton backs Wagner return at Huddersfield, but drops warning

Speaking exclusively to Football League World about the news of Wagner’s potential return to Huddersfield, Sky Sports’ Prutton talked up the “magic” he created at the John Smith’s Stadium before, whilst also touting a potential return for Stuart Webber, the club’s former Head of Football Operations.

"David Wagner getting the old band together, with rumors of Stuart Webber rejoining Huddersfield too," Prutton told FLW.

"It's a different set of circumstances, of course; the club now needs to get out of League One, whereas before, when they climbed out of the Championship, they weren't expected to even get into the Premier League, never mind stay there for a couple of years.

"I think the magic he created the first time around could potentially be repeated, but they do need the players to get out of League One, and I think that's what they've lacked this season. Also, there are some very big teams in League One now, as well as teams that have come blasting through it.

"But the football romantic sees the connection. The reality might be slightly tougher, but I think if he goes there, Huddersfield will be installed as one of the favourites to go up."

Wagner’s previous Huddersfield spell

Wagner's return would certainly be different to the circumstances surrounding his first arrival at the club in November 2015. At that time, Huddersfield were 18th in the Championship with three wins from their first 18 games. By the end of the season they were one place lower in the table, albeit comfortably clear of any relegation danger.

What happened next would turn out to be a dream come true for Terriers fans. The following season, Huddersfield were promoted into the Premier League after finishing fifth in the Championship and winning the play-offs, beating Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the semi-final and then defeating Reading FC at Wembley via the same method.

His team were the pre-season favourites to get relegated straight back down again at the start of the following season, but instead Huddersfield enjoyed a comfortable first-ever campaign of Premier League football, only slipping into the relegation places for one week throughout the entire 2017/18 season and finishing in 16th place, four points above the bottom three.

Next time around, though, the Terriers had a severe bout of ‘Second Season Syndrome’ and were relegated with just three wins all season and 16 points from their 38 games. Wagner went in January 2019 by mutual consent, with his team already eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.

The remit this time around at Huddersfield would be different, with Wagner tasked with putting the club back in the position he initially found them in. Quite whether he can take them on another Premier League journey is a big ask, but, as Prutton alludes to, he can bring back some of the magic we saw first time around and make West Yorkshire a much brighter place in the 2025/26 season if he returns.