Relegation-threatened Harrogate Town’s plight worsens as key attackers pick up injuries

As if things weren’t bad enough already, relegation-threatened Harrogate Town look to have lost their two most potent attacking threats to injury.

Bottom of League Two and four points from safety following Saturday’s damaging defeat at Newport County, the Sulphurites have it all to do if they are going to save themselves with just three games remaining this season.

Ellis Taylor picked up another thigh injury during the latter stages of Harrogate Town's 2-1 defeat at Newport County. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

placeholder image — Ellis Taylor picked up another thigh injury during the latter stages of Harrogate Town's 2-1 defeat at Newport County. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

But, what is already enormous task will now have to be undertaken without Ellis Taylor and, quite possibly, fellow winger Reece Smith.

Town have struggled in the final third throughout 2025/26, however their two young widemen have at least provided some moments of quality, with both players netting eye-catching goals in recent weeks.

Reece Smith has been one of the Sulphurites' better performers during a season of struggle.

But, Taylor is not expected to feature again this term after picking up another thigh injury during the latter stages of this weekend’s 2-1 loss to the Exiles, a game that Smith missed after pulling up in training with the same issue.

“I feel so much for Ellis, it’s another recurring injury, and it’s another blow,” Harrogate boss Simon Weaver told BBC Radio York.

“It’s another thigh injury and I would probably envisage that is him out for the season, which causes another problem.

“But obviously we want the player to be right, and we’ll look after the player over the summer and make sure he comes back right.

“Reece is another one with a thigh injury. He pulled up in training on Friday and that was a big blow on the eve of such a big game.

“He will report on Monday, and the best hope for us is that it was a dead leg that still had inflammation in there that was pinching him because he was a massive miss to this squad on Saturday.”

Taylor, who has already missed a big chunk of the season due to injury, has contributed five goals in just 16 appearances this term.

Smith, meanwhile, has chipped in with three goals and seven assists during his 49 games in all competitions, though those numbers do not necessarily do him justice given how well he was performed on a consistent basis.