One Direction have released a surprise new single titled ‘Drag Me Down‘, their first song released considering that the departure of member Zayn Malik recording.

Malik quit pop group One Direction in March, praoclaiming that he needs to be “a normal 22-year-old who is going to relax and have absolutely some private day out of the spotlight”. He has since unveiled plans to get a solo career.

Now, One Direction – that are thought to be focusing on their fifth album – have dropped ‘Drag Me Down’ out in the blue.

Singer Liam Payne posted a iTunes connect to the track to Twitter, writing: “Bit of any surprise ! Check out our new single! It’s called Drag Me Down. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do”. See that tweet below.

One Direction could take some time off following recent news that member Louis Tomlinson is usually to become a dad, manager Simon Cowell claims.

Cowell told The Sun: “I believed to him, ‘You man up. You’re fortunate because you have a position in order to look after the newborn and not worry a lot of about that’. I also told him, ‘I’ve received bad calls inside my life but this is simply not one of them. This is your business but I’m to put you’.”

“He didn’t kill anyone. He got someone pregnant. It happens everyday all over the world.”

“In terms on the band, they may have enough hits this is can take time off and perform a little other stuff they would like to do. Then I hope they’ve got a little bit of time apart and would like to get back together again. It’s a fun job, yet it’s absolutely their decision.”

The group formed this year, finishing third set up that year’s X-Factor. The pop outfit have since released four albums, with 2014’s ‘Four’ gonna Number One in 18 countries.