He has struggled for form this season, and Dale manager Paul Simpson allowed him to leave on trial as he is struggling to even make the substitutes bench here.
However, after just one day of training with Colchester he has returned north and it seems he will remain a Dale player for the immediate future - although it has been suggested that another third division club are interested in his signature.
"Lee will return to us with a clean slate," insisted Simpson today, " but if i'm honest he never left on a bad note in the first place.
"It was simply a case that I spoke to his agent and he stated that Lee wanted first team football, something I couldn't guarantee at present.
"I signed Lee in the summer so I know what he is capable of, it is now a case that he will be back training with us on Monday."