The A-League club issued a statement on Friday confirming it had approved the international's request to head back to the US.

"(We) will continue to offer (our) support to Steele throughout this time and will be making no further comment at this stage," it read.

The announcement came after the club granted Steele an indefinite period of personal leave last week after he missed a training session.

Steele appeared philosophical a day before the club announced the decision, tweeting on Thursday: "When things aren't going right, turn left."

The midfielder signed a two-season A-League deal with the Jets in July.

Steele had turned to New York Red Bulls team-mates, Tim Cahill and David Carney - who is now a Jets player - before making the move to Newcastle, having struggled to get playing time with the US outfit.

More recently, a calf problem sidelined him for the Jets' 2-1 loss to Perth Glory earlier this month.