West Brom left-back Max Melbourne has had his loan deal at Partick Thistle terminated early, it has been confirmed.
The Jags announced via their official website on Wednesday that Melbourne, 20, has returned to The Hawthorns with immediate effect after struggling to make an impact in the Scottish Championship.
Melbourne made just five appearances across all competitions during his loan spell with Patrick, which was originally planned to end in January when he first signed for the club.
OPINION
Although Melbourne has struggled for game-time with Patrick, he will still have picked up some vital experience and will return to West Brom a better player than when he left. How many other young players in the Championship can claim that they have played against a Europa League club this season? Melbourne played all 90 minutes of Partick’s 3-1 defeat to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup in August. Leigh Griffiths, Tom Rogic and Scott Brown played for the Hoops in that game, as well as former West Brom players Scott Sinclair and Cristian Gamboa. Lining up against those players would have been a great experience for the Baggies youngster, but it is not a good sign that he was forced to return earlier than planned. It must have been a decision by West Brom. Why would they want a youngster not playing out on loan when he could be playing in Premier League 2 here? Hopefully Melbourne can bounce back and impress somewhere else in the second half of the campaign.