Tom Thorpe has officially returned to Manchester United after having his loan spell with Birmingham City cut short.
The 21-year old centre-back joined the Brum on deadline day on a loan that was supposed to run until the end of the season but sustained ankle ligament damage in his only appearance - a 3-3 draw with Derby County on February 1.
Thorpe had returned to United to receive treatment with Birmingham still holding hope of seeing him in action again but the loan has now been formally ended.
"It's frustrating for the boy. I did say to him that I've never known him be injured or even miss a day's training due to illness or anything else," United reserves coach Warren Joyce told the club's official website.
"It was a really good 14 minutes he had on his debut as well. I watched the game and was pleased with him.
"Every touch he had was impressive. He made important headers under his own bar, defended corners and started really well. It looked like he had been playing there for 10 years and not 10 minutes."
