Orlando City SC mutually terminate contract of forward Martin Paterson

Orlando City SC announced on Wednesday that they have mutually terminated forward Martin Paterson’s contract.

Originally acquired in January on a six-month loan from English club Huddersfield Town, the Northern Ireland international made just four appearances for Orlando, struggling to find the field while dealing with injury.

The Lions play on Wednesday night, facing Toronto FC in a crucial Eastern Conference battle at BMO Field (8 pm ET; TSN and RDS2 in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US).

• READ: OCSC stretched thin for Wednesday's big Eastern Conference battle at TFC

“Pato was part of the core team that helped kick off Orlando City’s MLS debut and we are grateful for his contributions,” OCSC general manager Paul McDonough said a statement released by the club. “Due to personal reasons, we have agreed to terminate his contract which allows him to return home. We wish him the very best of luck in the future.”

Paterson is the second player to be released by Orlando City in the last week. The club waived defender Sean St. Ledger on Saturday due to a “serious breach of club policy."