Shane O'Neill leaving Belgian club, going back to Cyprus

Shane O'Neill's stay in Belgium wasn't very long. The United States U-23 has had his contract with Royal Mouscron-Peruwelz terminated and he will return to Cyprus club Apollon Limassol, according to Belgian paper La Derniere Heure.

O'Neill signed a two-year contract with Royal Mouscron-Peruwelz in August, but he has yet to appear for the club. The team has struggled and sits in 14th place, which isn't far from a relegation place. Now they're ready to give up on the American defender.

When O'Neill left MLS for Europe last year, he signed with Apollon Limassol, but he only spent a month there before going to Royal Mouscron-Peruwelz. Now he's going back to the Cypriots, but is expected to move on yet again. It's not clear where he will go, but the 22-year-old desperately needs to play. That's the No. 1 priority for his development and for the U.S., who need him to be in form for the Olympic qualifying playoff against Colombia in March and the Olympics, if they qualify.