Harrogate Town duo expected to return from injury during early weeks of 2026/27 season

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver expects to have two important members of his first-team squad back available for selection during the early weeks of the 2026/27 season.

Both winger Ellis Taylor and central midfielder Ben Fox had to undergo surgery on injuries sustained during the latter stages of the previous campaign, and are currently working their way back to full fitness.

Harrogate Town winger Ellis Taylor missed the back end of the 2025/26 season after picking up a muscle injury and, having undergone surgery, is expected to return during the early weeks of the new campaign. Picture: Matt Kirkham

placeholder image — Harrogate Town winger Ellis Taylor missed the back end of the 2025/26 season after picking up a muscle injury and, having undergone surgery, is expected to return during the early weeks of the new campaign. Picture: Matt Kirkham

Neither player is expected to feature at all for the Sulphurites during pre-season as the club prepares for life back in the National League following last term’s relegation.

But 23-year-old Taylor, who has, when fit, been virtually ever-present for Town since arriving at Wetherby Road in the summer of 2024 should return shortly after the new season gets underway on August 8.

"Ellis should be back for mid-August, so that’s encouraging news for us after he had an operation on the tendon with his groin,” Weaver told BBC Radio York.

"He is a great talent to be able to bring back at that time. It’s a long football season ahead and an important one, so hopefully we will get him back in that time period that has been forecasted.”

Former Sunderland man Taylor, who has scored 14 goals and provided five assists in 75 appearances for Town, missed the final weeks of 2025/26 after pulling up during the damaging 2-1 defeat to League Two relegation rivals Newport County in early April.

Twenty-eight-year-old Fox, meanwhile, is in line to return from a troublesome ankle issue the following month.

"Foxy is still in his period of rehab, but he looks fit and strong,” Weaver added. “He had a clear-out operation on his ankle, which had been troubling him for 18 months.

"That was really frustrating him, and us because he is such a big player for us, but there are signs that he’s going to return in September.

"He feels the best he has felt for quite some time, which is promising.”

Weaver also went on to confirm that the muscle tightness which kept Jack Muldoon out of Saturday’s pre-season win at Guiseley is unlikely to sideline the veteran forward for long.

Town return to action this Saturday when they visit Cleethorpes for a 3pm kick-off.