Leeds United are set to loan forward Nicky Ajose back to Crewe Alexandra until the end of the season, as reported by Adam Pope of BBC Radio Leeds.

#lufc Nicky Ajose will return to Crewe on loan until May.

— Adam Pope (@APOPEY) January 8, 2015

The rapid striker joined the Whites in the summer while Dave Hockaday was head coach of the Elland Road side.

However, with the sacking of Hockaday, the former Forest Green Rovers manager, came the end of Ajose’s first team appearances.

He played infrequently for Leeds’ Under 21 side until Neil Redfearn arranged a loan deal for him to join Crewe until the January transfer window.

It now seems as though Leeds have agreed to loan him to Crewe for the rest of the campaign.

It remains to be seen what Ajose’s future at Leeds will be.

He was something of a shock signing in the summer, having played only infrequently for Peterborough.

Ajose signed a three year deal, on reportedly good wages, meaning that he might prove difficult to move on on a permanent basis.

Leeds United have today confirmed the signing of Nicky Ajose from Peterborough United, with a reported fee of around £150,000 taking him to Elland Road, according to the club’s official Twitter account.

DONE DEAL: We can now confirm the signing of Nicky Ajose from Peterborough United, he has signed a 3-year deal #lufc pic.twitter.com/CfELJG0F9D

— Leeds United FC (@LUFC) August 5, 2014

Ajose played 24 games in his three years at Peterborough, scoring seven goals. While there, he also spent significant time on loan at Scunthorpe, Chesterfield, Crawley Town, Bury and Swindon Town. He spent last season with Swindon, scoring six in 16 in League One.

The former England youth international began his career at Manchester United, spending 12 years there between 1999 and 2011 before signing for Peterborough under the son of Alex Ferguson, Darren.

Leeds have signed Ajose having lost Ross McCormack earlier this summer to fellow Championship rivals Fulham, selling him for a fee of £11 million.

They won their last pre-season game, beating Dundee United 2-0 with goals coming from Steve Morison and Dominic Poleon. They face Millwall in their first league game of the new campaign on Saturday.