MIKE Grella chose to return to Leeds after being benched by Swindon boss Paul Hart for recent games, the striker has explained on his Twitter page.

The 24-year-old American was signed until the end of the season by former manager Danny Wilson at the end of February.

Grella, pictured right, was initially a regular starter under Hart and scored his only goal for the club in the 1-1 home draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on March 12.

But he was dropped to bench for the match at Exeter and was then named among the substitutes for the last home game with Hartlepool.

Consequently, Grella told Hart on Friday that he wished to return to Elland Road, citing a lack of first team football as his reason to want to leave.

“I’ve decided to come back to Leeds because under the new management I wasn’t getting games,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

“My reason for joining Swindon was to help them and to also get games in.

“I want to say thanks to the Swindon fans for everything and know that I have a great respect for the club and all the people involved.

“I hope they stay up because they have a great group of lads and the club deserves to be up higher.”