West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has revealed that he will not allow George Thorne to leave the club on a loan basis just yet.

Both Derby County and Watford are believed to have made approaches to Clarke regarding the 20-year-old's availability.

However, due to the fact that the midfielder has only just recovered from a cruciate ligament injury, Clarke has insisted that Thorne would benefit from continuing his rehabilitation at The Hawthorns.

"At the moment the important thing for George is to concentrate on his fitness," the Express & Star quotes Clarke as saying.

"He's had a couple of Under-21s games that he hasn't been able to finish so he's still looking for a little bit of fitness to take forward for the rest of the season.

"If George gets to a stage of his fitness where he's able to handle a loan move, then it's something we'd consider, but for now it's better he stays here and works with the medical people, who know how he's recovering. "

Thorne joined the Baggies as a trainee back in 2004.