West Bromwich Albion coach Keith Downing insists Jerome Thomas still has a future at the Hawthorns.
The winger is currently on-loan at Leeds United.
"The reason Jerome went out was to get games under his belt," said Downing.
"Steve found he couldn't give that regularity of games so we wanted him to go out and get some football.
"It's a case of go out and play as much as you can over the Christmas period and prove your fitness.
"We're not shutting the door at all on Jerome."