HARRY Brockbank admits he may have left Wanderers too early to pursue a new footballing career in the US.

The Bolton-born defender is now looking for a new club after severing ties with El Paso Locomotive, playing in the USL Championship.

Brockbank spent three months out in Texas and played 12 times for the club in all competitions but the 23-year-old said he struggled to settle on and off the pitch, leading to his decision to come back home.

“One of the main reasons that I came back was that I didn’t realise just how much I’d miss family, friends – the little things,” he told The Bolton News. “And I missed playing football in England.

“I think I jumped the gun a bit too early in going out there. I did in the hope it would work out, unfortunately things didn’t.

“I had another year on my contract with Bolton and maybe I should have stayed on? Maybe I could have gone out on loan? I don’t know.

“But I don’t look back with any regret. I could just as well have gone out and absolutely loved it. Now I just want to get back and get playing here.”

Brockbank started in the Wanderers academy at the age of seven but was allowed to leave in January with one year left on his contract.

He had played 37 games in three different divisions for his hometown club and also captained its youngest-ever team, which fought out a 0-0 draw against Coventry City in August 2019.

First team opportunities had slowed under Ian Evatt last season and an offer from El Paso arrived at exactly the point he was considering his options.

“The American season is different and when I got the offer they were going into their pre-season, so it was ‘now or never’ sort of thing,” he said. “I couldn’t join midway through.

“The overwhelming feeling was that I needed a big change. I needed to get away because I’d spent my whole life in Bolton and I thought I’d become too comfortable, maybe that a change would help.

“I spoke to the Gaffer and said I wanted to enjoy my football again but maybe I did it too soon?”

Brockbank is now looking around for his next move and wants to continue playing at a similar level to last season with Wanderers.

“I am open to offers but I think League Two or National League would be where I am at right now,” he said. “I have played a decent number of games at League Two level and played well, had a promotion at Bolton. But I know the standard of the National League is getting much higher and I was watching the Wrexham v Grimsby game, for example, and it was an unbelievable game of football. I think the English game is growing.”