Pardew: Mellor goes

  • by Graeme Howlett
  • Saturday, 28th February 2004

Hammers boss Alan Pardew has confirmed that on-loan striker Neil Mellor will be returning to Liverpool early next week - three months short of the agreed season-long loan period.

The young striker had become increasingly disillusioned with life at Upton Park after a hugely disappointing loan spell during which he managed to score just two goals (both of which came in the 3-0 win against Crystal Palace last year).

And after much speculation concerning his future Pardew confirmed tonight that Mellor is indeed returning to Liverpool.

"We've made a decision on Neil," Pardew, speaking during the Cardiff post-match press conference this evening revealed. "He's going back to Liverpool on Monday - which is a shame, because I wanted him to stay.

"But he feels that it is in his best interests for him to go back to Liverpool."

And that is a decision which would appear to suit all parties; with West Ham now out of the FA Cup and able to call upon all reserves once again opportunities for the Sheffield-born striker had become further limited, being as he was way down the pecking order behind the likes of Bobby Zamora, David Connolly, Marlon Harewood and Brian Deane.

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