Derby County defender Max Lowe has re-joined Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen on loan for the rest of the season.
The 21-year-old left-back spent the first half of the current season with the Dons in order to gain further first-team experience.
Lowe impressed during his time north of the border and made 19 appearances in all competitions, after featuring in three of Derby’s early-season fixtures.
He returned to Pride Park Stadium earlier this month and was named in the starting line-up for the Emirates FA Cup Third Round clash at home to Southampton, as well as the Sky Bet Championship fixture away to Leeds United.
Manager Frank Lampard said: “Max is very much our player and remains in our long-term plans, but we felt for his long-term development it was important for him to continue to get regular first-team matches.
“Aberdeen is a fantastic place for him to do that. He has really progressed under Derek McInnes and we have a great relationship with him.
“It’ll be good for Max to get more games under his belt and return to us in the summer ready for next season.”
Lowe, a graduate of Derby’s Academy system, signed a new deal with the Rams until the summer of 2021 earlier in the campaign.
Lowe has made 17 first-team appearances for the Rams since making his professional debut early in the 2016/17 campaign and spent the second half of last season on loan at Sky Bet League 1 side Shrewsbury Town.