Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney has confirmed the decision to terminate Joe Hugill's loan from Manchester United was a 'budget-related decision'.

United confirmed on Wednesday that Hugill, 21, had returned from his loan spell at the League One club ahead of schedule. He joined the Latics on a season-long loan deal back in July.

The youngster made a total of 18 appearances for the Latics across all competitions, scoring five goals. However, he faced stiff competition for a regular starting place due to the presence of Nottingham Forest loanee Dale Taylor, who has also scored five goals so far this season.

READ MORE: 'Literally everything' - Man United told why signing talented youngster 'makes perfect sense'

READ MORE: Anthony Martial conned us at Man United - we thought he was something else

Wigan have bolstered their attacking options already this month, signing Will Goodwin on loan from Oxford United for the rest of the campaign. Maloney has admitted he would have liked to have kept Hugill but the club could not afford to have three strikers on their books at the same time.

"It's a budget-related decision really," said Maloney, as quoted by Wigan Today. "I think he's done really well here, I've really enjoyed working with Joe, and I think there's even more development in Joe.

"In fairness to him, over the last 10 games or so, Dale [Taylor] has been in really, really good form, and I know Joe needs to play games. He was always going to leave us if Dale kept his place, which he did… although I still would have liked to have kept him.

"I know we've signed Will Goodwin, but Joe is a very different profile to him, but we can only carry two '9s' at the moment.

"So that's the decision…it's nothing to do with performance, or how we trained…we can only carry two '9s' and that's the decision."

United are expected to try and send Hugill out on loan again before the end of this month's transfer window. FIFA regulations state that a player can be registered with a maximum of three clubs in one season, but they are only allowed to play a competitive match for two of those clubs.

Hugill has not featured for United in a competitive fixture this season, meaning he is eligible to be sent out on loan again. It is possible he may have to drop into League Two for regular opportunities.