JORDAN Thorniley’s return to parent club Blackpool has been confirmed.

The defender has been recalled by the Sky Bet Championship outfit, bringing his season-long loan at Oxford United to a premature end.

Thorniley made 25 appearances for the U’s, all of them starts, the last of which came in the 3-2 win over former club Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

United head coach Karl Robinson said: “First of all, we thank Jordan for what he did here.

“He settled in straight away, he is a tremendous competitor and it has been a pleasure to have him here. We wish him well back at Blackpool.

Read also: Where Oxford United need to strengthen before transfer window shuts

“We have options in that position and because we always knew there was the recall clause we have made plans for all eventualities.

“We will wait and see if we need to bring in a direct replacement in the next week or so.”

It leaves Elliott Moore, Luke McNally and John Mousinho as United’s only senior centre backs with a week of the January transfer window to go.

Blackpool are understood to have offered Thorniley in a player plus cash deal for Cameron Brannagan earlier this month.

The Seasiders were apparently unwilling to meet the midfielder’s seven-figure buyout clause, while the two clubs’ valuations of the centre back were reportedly different.

He returns to bolster Blackpool’s defensive options, with Daniel Gretarsson on his way out and former U’s man Luke Garbutt, James Husband and Reece James all injured.