Oscar Thorn has joined Sky Bet League Two side Colchester United on a season-long loan. The agreement includes an option for Lincoln City to recall Oscar Thorn during the January transfer window. Sporting director Jez George said that Oscar Thorn needs football, which Lincoln City cannot guarantee him at the moment, and that this move allows him to play for a club and manager that he knows. Oscar Thorn will spend the campaign in Essex as he continues his development. Jez George said that last season was frustrating for Oscar Thorn due to requiring surgery on his ankle, which kept him out for three months, and then returning to full fitness when the team was performing very well and competition for places was intense. Jez George also said that Oscar Thorn can still have a long-term future at Lincoln City, but to give that the best chance he needs an opportunity to play, so this loan is a logical decision. Lincoln City has a recall in January so they can assess his progress and then decide on what is best for Oscar Thorn in the second half of the season. Jez George said that Oscar Thorn returned from the summer very fit and very strong, and has performed well in training and games. George also said that the EFL rule of only permitting a player to register and play for two clubs in a season means that if Oscar Thorn was in the squad on Saturday, and came on the pitch, he would then not be able to go to another club on loan in January. Jez George said they want the flexibility to accelerate Oscar Thorn’s development by potentially securing him a League One loan in January, which they would not be able to do if he plays any minutes at Derby. He added that this would be unwise and therefore the decision was made for Oscar Thorn to join Colchester before the weekend.