CHISHOM Afoka has left City to return to parent club Aston Villa.

Afoka becomes the first January exit from Valley Parade after making just five loan appearances – none of them under Graham Alexander.

The 20-year-old forward was signed by Mark Hughes at the end of the August transfer window.

But he played only two league games – coming off the bench for his debut in the televised home draw with Grimsby and then starting the following week against Harrogate.

He has not been in a squad for a league since October 14 when he was an unused substitute at Wimbledon.

Afoka did feature in the Carabao Cup third-round loss to Middlesbrough and in the EFL Trophy against Grimsby and Manchester City under-21s – his final City outing two months ago when Kevin McDonald was in caretaker charge.

Alexander is keen to bring down numbers in a squad which currently contains 27 outfield players.