Ethan Hamilton has returned to Manchester United halfway through a season-long loan with Southend.
Southend are second from bottom in League One and came to a mutual agreement with United for Hamilton to return this month. Hamilton, 21, is expected to join another Football League club next week.
Hamilton was named in the United squad for their FA Cup fifth round tie at Huddersfield Town in 2018 but is not expected to figure in their third round trip to Wolves on Saturday. United midfielders Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay are both out injured.
Scotland youth international Hamilton played 16 times for Southend after a successful four-month spell on loan with fellow League One side Rochdale, where he scored four times to spark their resurgence and avoid relegation. Dale manager Brian Barry-Murphy suggested at a fans' forum in August Rochdale tried to re-sign Hamilton but did not have the finances to match Southend.
Hamilton last played for Southend on December 7 and has been an unused substitute in their last four fixtures. Sol Campbell replaced Kevin Bond as the Southend manager in October.
Hamilton travelled with the United squad to the United States for their pre-season tour in 2018 and came on in the 1-1 draw with AC Milan in Carson City. He has never played for the first-team in a competitive fixture, though.
United loanee George Tanner, 20, could also cut short his loan arrangement with League Two Morecambe this month. Morecambe are also second from bottom but several clubs have expressed interest in signing full-back Tanner.
Salford City, League One Portsmouth, Championship outfits Blackburn Rovers and Derby County, and Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls are all believed to have enquired about Tanner. United could let Tanner leave permanently this month, rather than on a free at the end of the season.
