It was officially announced yesterday that Jamie Paterson would be returning to Bristol City after a disappointing loan spell at Derby County.
Paterson made just 12 appearances for the Rams this season in all competitions and played just 490 minutes of football in the Championship.
Lee Johnson confirmed that Paterson was back training with the squad yesterday after Bristol Live reported in November that he would be coming back.
The attacking midfielder will likely remain with City for the rest of the season, and now Derby County manager Phillip Cocu has given his view on the loan spell.
Speaking after Derby's 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic last night, Cocu told the Derby Telegraph: "It just didn't work like we had in mind.
"He played in the middle of the first half of the season a few games as a second striker or as a '10', on the wing he struggled a little bit more.
"In the end, if he is not getting involved here anymore, then for the player it is better to find somewhere else to play, and also for us.
"He is a good lad, and hopefully he gets back on grass but it didn't work here."
Paterson scored just one goal and set up two more in his time with Derby, and despite a solid bout of form at the end of September and start of October, he will now fight for his place with the Robins.
Cocu addressed Paterson's form in November, and hinted that the writing may have already been on the wall for him to return.
He said: "He played some game, and some games he played good, especially as a number 10.
"At the moment, Tom Lawrence is playing the position, and is doing well, so there is quite some competition in that position.
"It is the same for him (Paterson) as it is for every other player. He has to show the coaches and the manager he is the best one for the job or, when the possibility is there, he has to take it."
With Bristol City's squad looking more inflated now that Paterson is back, Lee Johnson has admitted that he is keen to trim the squad down.
Following the announcement, Johnson said: "We’ve got a couple of decisions to make but again, you have Rodri out of contract, Joe Morrell potentially being recalled, the boys at Torquay.
"I do want to reduce the numbers in the squad."
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