Joe Hodge scouting report as Wolves midfielder joins Huddersfield Town

The 21 year old has joined clubmate Nigel Lonwijk in making a loan switch from Molyneux

Huddersfield Town have announced Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joe Hodge has joined the club on loan for the 2024/25 season.

The 21-year-old Manchester City academy graduate joined Wolves in 2021 and has made 13 first-team appearances for the club, as well as having a half-season loan spell with Queens Park Rangers last term.

The announcement comes just hours after clubmate Nigel Lonwijk was also unveiled as a new loan arrival at the John Smith’s Stadium, with Hodge’s signing taking Town’s tally of summer signings to seven alongside Lasse Sorensen, Mickel Miller, Antony Evans, Herbie Kane and Callum Marshall.

Head coach Michael Duff said: “Joe is a very interesting talent. He plays in the deeper midfield role and combines a real tenacity with some impressive technical abilities. He’s excellent on the ball and has genuine creative flair, but he also enjoys the defensive side of the game, as you must in that area of the pitch.

“I think he adds a different set of attributes to our squad and gives me some really interesting options in a strong midfield.”

Sporting director Mark Cartwright added: “We’re happy to welcome Joe to the club today, as he should play an important role for us this season.

“We have a longstanding admiration of Joe, and we’ve had to be patient amid a lot of interest from clubs in higher divisions and overseas to secure his signature. We believe he’s worth that wait as the missing piece in our midfield puzzle.”

Hodge said: "I can't wait to come here, start playing, and hopefully get as many minutes as possible.

"I hope I can help the team - I give everything, every time I'm playing. I can't wait to get started, hopefully this weekend."

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Joe Hodge scouting report

Hodge’s role with Town is very likely to be in his best position. Alex Matos was in the process of being converted into a defensive midfielder when he arrived at the John Smith’s, and there were occasions where we’ll charitably say he looked a bit raw.

Hodge has played there for a quite a while now and it shows when you do the eye test. Instinctively he sits in front of the back line and covers – the Jonathan Hogg role, as we’ll call it. He looks a natural, but is lacking one thing you can’t train into a footballer: experience.

Where he and Hogg differ is, understandably at 14 years his junior, Hodge is the quicker of the two. His work rate is excellent and has been the thing most managers have commented on when he’s been under their command, but he covers the ground extremely quickly with it.