Huddersfield Town pounce as Chelsea recall Rotherham United star Izzy Brown

Brown, who turns 20 on Saturday, had been a redeeming feature in the Millers’ bereft season, but the talented attacker has now seen his spell cut short, despite being happy to stay at the club.

Huddersfield won the race for the 19-year-old’s services ahead of Birmingham, with Brown’s Blues team mate Kasey Palmer currently on loan at the club.

Rotherham boss Paul Warne said: “It’s bad news with Izzy, unfortunately. Chelsea have pulled him back and want him to go and play in a top-six team.

“I have been having texts and chats with him all week and I know the lad wants to stay, but his people and the powers-that-be want him to take the next step.

“I appreciate what he’s done at the club. But his time with us is now finished.”

Brown could make his Huddersfield debut against Port Vale in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, subject to clearance from the Premier League.

The midfielder featured 20 times for bottom-of-the-table Rotherham in the Championship this season, scoring five goals and providing three assists.

The England youth international started his career at West Bromwich Albion before signing for Chelsea in 2013 for £1 million.

He made his Blues debut in a 3-0 defeat against the Baggies at the end of the 2015-16.

Warne added: “He has got everything. I spoke to a mate of mine and Norwich and said: ‘you should have signed him, really.’ I’d recommend him to any club.

“What he has got than a lot of players don’t have is that he is always good at taking it on his back foot and turning it out the other way.

“He was a good outlet for us. I think he is a number ten and nothing else and I said this to him. I don’t think you can play him out wide, he fades out of games and is not naturally a defender.

“When I took over for the first game at Burton, I said to him I thought it was fate that I’d be his manager as I’d make him work harder and in the six games he’s played under me, he’s been outstanding and probably won man of the match in about three or four and I thought he was outstanding again at Leeds.

“His ability is unquestionable. But some lads coming through, it is like a different generation and their work ethic isn’t sometimes the same.

“I questioned Izzy when I took over, but at the end, I wouldn’t question his work ethic. He was brilliant for us, a real team player and the lads loved him.”