Hull City on lookout for defensive signing as Martin Samuelsen departs

Samuelsen is on the verge of a loan move to Danish side AaB, who have an obligation to buy if performance targets are met.

Having signed Gavin Whyte, Dan Crowley and Jordaon Flores this month, the Tigers can withstand the loss of the Norwegian, who has not started a league game this season, but coach Grant McCann is set to return to the transfer market anyway to see if he can find another option to cover for Fleming.

But with no irons in the fire ahead of Monday's deadline, he says there is no panic to sign anyone.

“Brandon Fleming's picked up an injury, a really strange one, just an over-use one,” he explained. “The timescale we don't know.

“We are looking in that area because we need a bit of cover. We've got players who can play in that position and a young player we think highly of in Jake Leake coming through the academy but we are looking just in case there's anything out there which could help us in that position.

“There's no one imminently coming in but we are looking.

“It's a strange one, it's up near his pubic bone that goes into his groin and it's on the bone and as we know, bone takes time to heal.

“Fingers crossed it's not too long but given the amount of games we have we've got to make sure we're strong so we've got players to come in if there's a loss of form, an injury or a rest (needed), or whatever it might be.”

Leake, a Hull-born 17-year-old, is yet to make his first-team debut, even in the Football League Trophy where a number of youngsters have made the breakthrough this season, but McCann has shown his willingness to make use of an academy he regards highly.

Former Manchester City and West Ham United youngster Samuelsen joined in January 2020 but has not had the impact hoped, with only eight starts in all competitions.

“Martin Samuelsen is travelling to Denmark as we speak to finalise a deal out there so hopefully that goes through because as a person I love him, as a player I love him but unfortunately the form of others has not allowed him to get the games he wanted and he's picked up a couple of niggling injuries inbetween that,” said McCann.

“I've got a really good relationship with Martin, open and honest when we speak to each other and it's probably the right time for him to go and play some football.

“Initially it's going to be a loan so let's see how he develops out there, whether he comes back to us or not. There is an obligation to take him on a permanent but things have to happen for that to go through. If he comes back we'll be pleased because we know he's a very good player and there's some ability in there.”

Meanwhile midfielder George Honeyman is rated “touch and go” for Saturday's League One visit of Swindon Town after taking a hefty kick in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.