Spence back in the fold

Jordan Spence has returned to West Ham United after four months at Championship outfit Scunthorpe United.

The 19-year-old defender made nine league and two cup appearances for Scunthorpe, although as the team began to struggle of late he found chances limited with his loan club favouring more experienced players. Spence could potentially make his West Ham return in the reserves at Wolverhampton Wanderers next Tuesday.

The homegrown Hammer had a similar loan spell at Leyton Orient last season, playing 20 games in League One. The England Under-20 international headed back to West Ham in the summer and was taken on the first team's pre-season training camp in Austria and subsequent tour of China.

His return to the Boleyn Ground, along with that of Freddie Sears from Crystal Palace, means only two Hammers players remain out on loan. Nigel Quashie is with League One high-fliers Milton Keynes Dons but cannot play against Burnley in the FA Cup while Matt Fry could make his second appearance in the competition for fellow League One side Gillingham when they go to Accrington Stanley in the third round on Saturday. He faces a late fitness test but has been a regular.