DANNY Cowley has outlined the reasoning behind Nico Lawrence returning to Southampton after his loan spell at Colchester United came to an end.

The 21-year-old was on a season-long loan with the U's but has now returned to the Championship club, midway through the campaign.

The additions this week of Riley Harbottle and Alistair Smith took Colchester's loan intake to six players and that, coupled with being unable to promise Lawrence game time, was the main reason the young defender has gone back to Saints.

U's boss Danny Cowley said: "The fact that we have six loans is not ideal as only five can play and really because of that is the reason we let Nico go back.

READ MORE: League Two strugglers place former Birmingham boss in charge

"I think Nico has had a real stop-start season.

"He had a great loan at Torquay last season and will have learnt a lot from that experience particularly in a relegated team, what a tough experience for a young player and he came through it well.

"I think this season he started positively; as a young player, there was a lot asked of him as a centre-half, taking it into the midfield so that will have been very good for his game development.

"He had the injury and then had the second injury to his shoulder and I think when we looked at the whole picture, I think we had to make some sensible decisions.

"I think Nico will be a really good player, I've obviously no doubt of that.

"He's on an upward curve in his career and I expect to see him playing at the top end of our game in the near future.

"But sometimes it's about here and now for us and it's about making sensible decisions.

READ MORE: Why reflection was vital for Nicky Cowley during time out

"I know (Southampton boss) Russell Martin well; he's a friend of mine and we were able to have open communication.

"I couldn't promise Nico game time and when we spoke to Southampton, we felt it would be best if they found another pathway for him which we totally understood.

"I think we leave the relationship both with Southampton and Nico on really good terms and we wish him plenty of success, moving forward."

Gazette:

Lawrence started the current season in the Colchester starting line-up under Ben Garner, having joined the club in the summer.

He made five appearances before suffering a serious ankle injury in the U's 3-0 defeat at Gillingham, last August.

Lawrence returned to Southampton for treatment and was on the verge of a comeback for Colchester before he suffered a dislocated shoulder in training that kept him out of action for a further period.

Lawrence has now recovered from the injury and featured in the U's under-21 game at Chelsea, on Monday night.

But all parties decided that it was best for Lawrence to return to Southampton.