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Jake ThomsonJake Thomson has expressed his disappointment at having his loan spell at Cheltenham Town ended yesterday.

The winger has returned to Exeter City after one goal in three starts and two substitute appearances during his month with the Robins.

With Mark Yates' men highly unlikely to go up or down this season, cutting loan costs makes financial sense for the club, but Thomson was desperate to show the fans what he is capable of after failing to reach the heights he displayed against Cheltenham for Torquay last season.

"I started the job here and I would like to have seen it through because I have not even touched the surface of what I have in my locker," Thomson said.

"I've not been able to force my way into the team and I feel like I have failed in this loan stint. I didn't want to end like that.

"I didn't want the Cheltenham fans wondering what the point was in me coming because I didn't really do anything.

"All clubs have wanted me back in the past, but if I am honest Cheltenham could toss a coin as to whether they wanted me back or not."

Thomson admits he is struggling from a lack of regular football this season.

He has made only one League One start for Exeter, who he joined from Southampton on a free transfer last summer.

"I have more or less gone a full season without playing too many games in a row and I am probably not fit enough," Thomson said.

"That only comes with games and when you've not played for a while, it's hard to go on and change things and I think sometimes I tried too much, but that was just eagerness to impress."

Despite their recent downturn in form, Thomson believes Cheltenham have made significant progress since he ran rings around them during his time on loan at Plainmoor last term.

"I played against Cheltenham last season and I was not overly impressed, but now there is so much ability in the squad, it's just so frustrating that silly little things are costing them at the moment," he said.

"For clubs like Cheltenham it's all about progress and the start they had was fantastic.

"If the fans were offered this position at the start of the season, I am sure most of them would have jumped at it.

"Every team, apart from maybe Barcelona, has a blip and a bad run and results have dropped, but it's still the same players and management."

A small squad and the rest of the division growing wise to Cheltenham's way of playing are two factors Thomson believes have resulted in the disappointing form since the turn of the year.

"Maybe the squad is too thin here, but also other managers have probably worked out how to nullify Cheltenham," he said.

"That's a feather in their cap because other clubs are basing their team play around how Cheltenham play to try and stop them. It's new for them and maybe they have not handled it particularly well.

"They need to go back to basics and start smiling again because I think everything is too high pressured.

"If they can go out and play with no fear, I don't think there is any team they can't beat."

Of his decision to let Thomson return to his parent club, Yates said: "It's now down to the boys who have been here for the majority of the season to get back into the winning habit and give everything for this football club."