Lauri Dalla Valle returns to Fulham from Dundee United

Dalla Valle scored three goals for United during his Tannadice stay

Finland Under-21 striker Lauri Dalla Valle has returned to Fulham at the end of his loan spell with Dundee United.

The 20-year-old made seven starts and was a substitute eight times for the Tannadice side, scoring three goals.

There had been an option to extend the loan until the end of the season, but he has returned to Craven Cottage.

"He leaves with the club's best wishes for his future," said a short statement on the Scottish Premier League club's official website.

United manager Peter Houston said last month that he hoped to extend the Finn's stay at Tannadice.

But, after being an unused substitute during Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to leaders Celtic, Dalla Valle expressed his frustration at not becoming a more regular starter.

"I would have liked to start more games and to score a few more goals, but I still think that my loan spell went okay," he wrote on his blog, www.ldvandjuuli.com.

"I feel like I've gained valuable experience from this and that I've improved during the last four months.

"I couldn't have asked anything more from the club.

"My team-mates, the coaching staff, the people that work at the club, they've been all brilliant with me since day one.

"That made my time even more enjoyable."

Dalla Valle, who began his career in his homeland with JIPPO before joining Liverpool, has also had a previous loan spell with Bournemouth after switching to Fulham in 2010.