I would, he'd still only be 22 when he returns and I've seen enough of him for me to think there's a player in there. My number one pet-peeve is fans writing off young players too early and only focusing on their flaws, obviously there comes a time when you have to say they're no longer worth persisting with but all too often fans are too quick to make definite judgments on what a player can/can't do and what they can or can't become. I don't really like the negative tone behind the statement of him apparently not wanting to work for his place, others would applaud him for wanting to get out there and play rather than potentially sitting around and picking up his money. We still don't know what really went down but if Poch wasn't that bothered about keeping him then I simply think he's wrong, it doesn't mean I don't support him, just on this one decision I disagree with him.
Your last point is fair enough but I guess we'll never know unless he comes back, which looks unlikely.