JOE Mason has returned to Cardiff City after his loan deal was officially cancelled by mutual consent.

Wanderers confirmed the striker’s departure this afternoon, two months since his last appearance as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 draw at Blackpool.

Mason had three loan spells with the Whites but had planned to stay the whole season after being brought back to the club by Dougie Freedman in August.

The 23-year-old became the first Wanderers player in 12 years to score a hat-trick when he sunk Rotherham at the Macron Stadium a month later.

But Mason had few opportunities under Lennon – and with new Cardiff boss Russell Slade also keen to take a look at him, a return to South Wales looked inevitable.

The situation was complicated by Mason’s hamstring injury, picked up in early December, with both clubs taking time to come to an arrangement on financial terms to end his loan.

Mason scored four times in 14 appearances this season and 10 times in 30 games in total for Wanderers.