Huddersfield Town manager Danny Cowley says Terence Kongolo is aiming to return to action at the start of next season, with the defender's current campaign cut short by a foot injury.

Kongolo had joined Huddersfield's Championship rivals Fulham on loan during the January transfer window, but picked up the injury in just his second appearance for Scott Parker's promotion chasers, a 1-0 win away at Blackburn on the 8th February.

Explaining the situation around Kongolo ahead of his side's trip to Swansea on Saturday afternoon, Cowley told The Examiner: "A frustrating one for Terence, for us and for Fulham.

"He went on in the Blackburn game with about eight minutes to go, he jumped and won a header but when he landed on his foot there was a problem.

"In the foot there are many, many different bones and between these there are ligaments.

"Unfortunately, Terence took a heavy landing on one of those bones and ligaments and he's had to have a piece of metalwork put in which, hopefully, will resolve the issue."

Revealing how long that injury, and the treatment he will need to receive for it, will keep Kongolo out of action for, Cowley continued: "He will then need that metalwork to come out before he is able to play again, so it is going to be a lengthy one.

"We are hoping he will be available for the start of next season - that is certainly the aim - but it is a disappointment to everyone."

Explaining what that is likely to mean for Kongolo's future after seeing this injury bring his loan spell at Craven Cottage to a premature end, the Huddersfield boss concluded: "You feel for Terence because he had just gone to Fulham, who are in a good position and he would have wanted to affect them while on loan.

"It was our ambition for him to get out on loan, to play games and to try and find his mojo again, so it is frustrating, but sometimes these moments happen and Terence, now, will have a period of time to reflect and refocus and then to fight to get back fit and make himself available again."

Prior to that temporary move to Fulham, Kongolo had made 11 appearances in the Championship for Huddersfield this season.

There are currently two-and-a-half years remaining on the defender's contract with Huddersfield, securing his future at the John Smith's Stadium until the end of the 2021/22 season.

The Verdict

You certainly have to feel for Kongolo here.

That move to Fulham would have been a decent opportunity for him to kick start his career in England again - with a side challenging for promotion no less - having seemingly fallen down the pecking order at Huddersfield recently.

Now however, it looks as though the defender is set to endure a frustrating few months, particularly given he will have to get back up to match sharpness, even after he has returned to full fitness, potentially hampering his chances of another move in the summer, since sides may be reluctant to take a risk on him.

It will however, be interesting to see if he is able to make enough of an impression during his rehabilitation at Huddersfield, to earn himself another chance in the Terriers side, something he may not have got had he remained at Fulham for the rest of the season.