Newcastle United striker Elias Sorensen was left "devastated" by his unsuccessful loan spell at Blackpool - but has promised to make up for it by helping fire the Magpies' Under-23 side to promotion.
The 19-year-old joined the League One side in January, after Blackpool held off competition from around a dozen EFL clubs to acquire the forwards's services for the second half of the campaign.
Yet Sorensen - who had scored 19 goals for the Magpies' second-string side during the first half of the season - was afforded just 32 minutes of football across a near loan two-month spell.
Rafa Benitez was left exasperated by the situation, as were members of Newcastle's backroom staff at both senior and Academy level, and so the decision was made by United to recall Sorensen early last month.
The Denmark Under-21 international is still frustrated by the lack of opportunities he was afforded at Bloomfield Road - where Tangerines manager Terry McPhillips claimed Sorensen did not "do enough" to impress in training - and the striker is determined to prove he deserves to be awarded with another Football League loan spell for next season.
With Newcastle's Under-23 side third in Premier League 2, Division 2, Sorensen is confident he can score the goals necessary to secure the Magpies a play-off spot, and then potentially promotion to the top flight of the development leagues - and that, if he does so, he can earn another loan move this summer.
“Going out on loan was supposed to lead to giving me a chance to getting into the first team when I came back. But the loan wasn’t what I hoped it would be, to be honest," Sorensen - who had been hoping to make the sort of impact at Blackpool as midfielder Sean Longstaff did during an impressive loan spell at Bloomfield Road last season - told the Shields Gazette of his short stint on the west coast.
“Obviously I train every day and train as hard as I can because being in the first team is where I want to be.
“I was gutted about how the loan worked out. I don’t think I got the chance to show what I could do.
"I am devastated that they never gave me a chance, but hopefully now I am back I can make the most of what is here.
“It’s good to be back amongst the lads and to get some minutes into the tank. I just want to get my confidence back once again, and I want to kick on and help this side get promotion.”
Sorensen won the prestigious Wor Jackie Trophy - given to the Magpies' most-exciting Academy prospect - at the Sport Newcastle Dinner last month, and received advice from Magpies legend Alan Shearer following the presentation of the award.
Newcastle United recall loan trio, including Elias Sorensen, after frustrating spells away
'He’s just been unlucky, he’s done nothing wrong' - Blackpool boss speaks out about Elias Sorensen
