Elliot Lee has gone back to West Ham early, before his loan spell from the Hammers was due to expire.

Front-runner Lee, who scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser at Rotherham in the U’s last away game, was due to stay at the Essex club until after this weekend’s trip to Preston, when his one-month loan deal was set to expire.

But manager Joe Dunne confirmed this morning that Lee had returned to Upton Park early.

Dunne revealed: “Elliot has gone back to West Ham. He has gone already.

“Elliot and I had a chat in the week, and he has gone back to West Ham.

“Overall, it’s been his first spell as a loan players. There’s plenty to learn in your first loan, and I’m sure he has learnt a lot.

“I’ve had a lot of first loans, and I don’t mind taking first loans.

“Elliot will go back a stronger person for it. He will use what he has learned here in the last few weeks, and take that into his next loan, because I feel he will need another one,” added Dunne.