Dan Crowley has been sent back from his loan spell at Oxford United early but no one seems to know why.

The 19-year-old midfielder was supposed to spend the entire season with the League One side but has been sent back.

Crowley has scored three times in 11 appearances but hasn’t been included in the squad during the last three games as it seems he’s been punished for behaviour away from the football pitch.

Oxford coach, Michael Appleton, has been cagey about the whole situation.

“I’m certainly not going to lose sleep if Arsenal have got an issue with Oxford United going forward,” Appleton told BBC Radio Oxford.

“The one thing we are, and will always be, is very professional. Nothing and nobody will ever get in the way of what we’re trying to do from a team culture and ethos point of view.”

His use of the phrases ‘team culture’ and ‘ethos’ suggest that this was once again an off-the-pitch issue and it’ll be interesting to see what’s happened.

 

Earlier in the season, Appleton hinted at Crowley not being the most professional of players and even said that he’s had previous issues off the pitch at Arsenal.

“I didn’t think his head was in the right place, so he was left out of the squad,” he said.

“There are a couple of issues I want to make sure are addressed in terms of what he does on and off the field.

“He’s a 19-year-old lad who has fantastic ability, but his professionalism at times lets him down.

“He’s had a few issues at Arsenal and Barnsley previously. It’s all a massive learning curve for him.

“Ultimately sometimes when people step out of line you have to put them in their place.”

It seems as if Crowley was on his final warning, which he’s used up.

Hmmm.