Soccer gossip: Hull, Blades, Barnsley, Doncaster

City invested heavily in the recent January transfer window, spending a combined £3.5m to bring in Sunderland’s David Meyler and Manchester United’s Robbie Brady, while also snapping up Sunderland’s Ahmed Elmohamady and Egyptian compatriots Gedo and Ahmed Fathi in on loan.

The latter two were granted work permits on Tuesday and will fly to England tomorrow following Egypt’s friendly with Chile in Madrid tonight.

But despite the hive of activity, City are ready to push that extra yard to help Bruce - who missed out in a beat-the-deadline move for DJ Campbell - as the club bid to secure an automatic promotion spot come May following an impressive season thus far.

On the prospect of loan business, with the emergency loan market reopening on Friday, Tigers’ managing director Nick Thompson said: “We did not spend the money on DJ Campbell so the funds remain available.

“I can almost certainly say we’ll be looking during the emergency loan window, but it is a deal that has to be right for the player and the club.

“Ideally, we’d have done our business and been finished by the end of January. It did not happen that way but there is the opportunity to look again.”

City have revealed plans to freeze season ticket prices for the 2013-14 campaign in a bid to stop dwindling crowds at the KC Stadium.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United chief Danny Wilson has revealed that representatives of Greece’s 2004 European Championships final-winning hero Angelos Charisteas approached him about a move to the Blades.

Wilson, frustrated after the Blades’ bid to get back on the winning track was thwarted by the weather with last night’s scheduled home clash with Crawley Town postponed, says that the decision of Charisteas, 32, who scored in the final of Euro 2004 against Portugal as Otto Rehhagel’s side stunned the continent by lifting the trophy, to get in touch is proof that the club remain a big draw.

Charisteas, who has fired 25 goals in 88 international appearances, has joined fellow trialists Conor Clifford, Ted Cribley and Craig Lynch at United.

Wilson added: “Whether people like it or not, Sheffield United’s name has a lot of clout. Whether people know much about the division we are in is immaterial because they know our reputation and it’s still a big draw.

“An agent got in touch with us and asked if we would like to take a look at Angelos. When you get the opportunity to do that, especially given the player’s CV and pedigree, it would be foolish to say no.”

Charisteas’ footballing cv also included spells at Werder Bremen, Ajax, Feyenoord, FC Nuremberg, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04.

Barnsley’s home encounter with Brighton has been moved to Tuesday, March 12, 7.45pm kick-off.

The Reds were due to face Albion in the Championship on February 16, but the match has had to be moved because the club take on MK Dons in the FA Cup fifth round.

Doncaster Rovers chief Brian Flynn has reassured Leeds-born loan striker Emile Sinclair that he will play a big role in the club’s bid for the League One title - despite limited opportunities thus far.

The 25-year-old, on loan from Peterborough United, has tasted action for just 92 minutes since joining on January 4.

Flynn said: “We have had numerous chats with Emile. He will certainly have a big role to play between now and the end of the season.

“It’s difficult for him to have come in at the time he did because the team have been winning.

“That has made it very difficult for him to break into the side.

“My advice for Emile is when the opportunity comes for him to take it.”