Ryan Smith back at Arsenal?

Ryan Smith, the young winger touted as potentially one of Leicester City's finest, albeit temporary, signings when he arrived on loan, is believed to have returned to Arsenal.

The news is totally unconfirmed and remains an unofficial website rumour, but it virtually coincides with Leicester signing 23-year-old left winger Andy Welsh on loan until the end of the season from Sunderland.

Smith has not featured much at all since Rob Kelly took over as City manager, having suffered loss of form, illness and, it was claimed, a thigh injury.

It was expected that he might make an appearance at Ipswich last week but his expected place on the bench went to Momo Sylla.

Even this week that was put down to injury but there were also tales of a falling out between Kelly and Smith which offers credit to the brief claims posted on Vitalfootball Leicester City late yesterday evening that Smith will be returning home to London and back to Arsenal.

Vitalfootball has e-mailed Leicester City for confirmation or otherwise of Smith's departure.

Smith made his City debut away at Derby and transformed the pattern of the game. He became a crowd favourite towards Christmas and scored in the brilliant 4-2 win over second in the table Sheffield United.

He made 12 starts for City but since the Sheffield match had only featured as a substitute apart from the January Cup games against Spurs and Southampton.

Ironically City fans had generally rejoiced when his loan, which was originally due to end around Christmas, was extended until the end of the season by Craig Levein shortly before he was replaced as manager.

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