CHRIS WILDER has confirmed that Djed Spence will not be returning to Middlesbrough for the second half of the season.

Spence joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan last summer, but Boro inserted a clause enabling them to trigger a recall during this month’s transfer window.

The right-back has been in excellent form at the City Ground in the first half of the season, and Wilder admits Spence is ideally suited to the way in which he wants his Boro side to play.

However, with Isaiah Jones having burst onto the scene as a right wing-back this term – the youngster was named Championship Player of the Month for December this morning – and with Spence having expressed a desire to remain with Forest for the remainder of the campaign, Wilder has decided not to opt for a recall.

Wilder said: “He’s (Spence) our player, and it’s always been a complex situation. I understand more than anybody that he’s playing well, and we’re delighted that he’s playing well because he’s our player and our asset as well.

“We always look from a football point of view when these boys are playing well, and Djed’s done that. I think we all understand that he might not be a player I would have allowed to go out. I think that’s understandable in terms of how we play and what his attributes are.

“I’ve watched him, and he’s doing well and he’s happy. He wants to stay there for the second half of the season. I know that’s not the be all and end all, and we have to make the decision that fits right by us.

“We’ve made the decision that Djed stays out there until the end of the season. Financially, we had the ability to improve the contract financially that benefited us, that allows us to maybe invest elsewhere and give us that opportunity to improve the standard of player we’re trying to get in to this football club by allowing Djed to go out.

“I think the biggest thing is the young man that’s playing in that position at the moment (Jones). I don’t want to stunt his progression because he’s been outstanding. Bringing a player back who has played football and wants to play first-team football, I’ve got to weigh up a lot of things.

“I know it’s early days, but I’d like to think the supporters of Middlesbrough will trust in the decisions we make for the benefit of the football club – short, medium and long term. It was a difficult one, but we’ve made the decision to leave Djed out. We feel that was the right decision on quite a lot of fronts.”