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Luton Town saw a whole host of players embark on EFL loans in the summer and it is fair to say that these individuals have had a varying levels of success at their respective clubs.
The likes of Carlos Mendes Gomes, Admiral Muskwe, Dion Pereira and Elliot Thorpe were given opportunities to impress at first-team level during pre-season, and whilst some did, temporary stints away from Kenilworth Road were arranged.
Josh Neufville is another Luton player currently plying his trade within the Football League away from Bedfordshire, whilst John McAtee and Aribim Pepple secured loan moves to Grimsby Town almost immediately upon arrival.
With the January transfer window now fully in motion, Thorpe has become the first player to return to Kenilworth Road after what has been a frustrating stint at Burton Albion.
A player who has shown glimpses of real promise in Town colours, when afforded opportunities, the 22-year-old has amassed a mere 114 minutes of League One football this season.
Arriving at the Pirelli Stadium when the Brewers were under the stewardship of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the Dutchman left the League One club just four days after Thorpe put pen to paper.
Subsequently, game time has been extremely limited for the young midfielder and he has missed out on Burton’s 18-man squad on the last nine matchdays.
In an ideal world, sanctioning a League Two loan move where game time is more likely would be the next step, however, the fact that he has played “official matches” for Luton this season means that he cannot play for another club during what remains of this season.
It is certainly a difficult situation for Thorpe to be in and it has certainly presented itself as a stumbling block in his progression, however, he may see opportunities under Rob Edwards.
If not in the first-team picture during what remains of this campaign, then he may feature for the club’s development squad in order to get his confidence levels back to where they are.
Thorpe is a player who has thrived within the club’s U21 set up before and that could be the immediate next step.
Of course, a lot will depend on what Luton are able to do in the January transfer window, and if there are still spaces in the club’s 25-man squad, then Thorpe could be called upon.