Tigers deny making bid for Aussie Ryan

But the Tigers chief has stressed that reports in Australia claiming the Championship club have made a bid for the 20-year-old Central Coast Mariners are well wide of the mark.

The report, which appeared in yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald, quoted Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull as saying: “I can confirm Hull City are one of a number of clubs to have expressed an interest in signing Mathew Ryan in January.”

Bruce, however, insists that is not the case, even though the Tigers have looked at a goalkeeper who is understudy to Mark Schwarzer in the Australian national team.

The Hull chief said: “I’ve seen the report and it certainly isn’t true to say we have made a bid.”

Ryan, who has previously had trials with Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion, is in the final year of his contract with the Mariners.

The January transfer window will be the last chance for Central Coast to cash in on their prized goalkeeper, unless the club can convince him to stay.

Ryan seems keen on a move to England with a trial at Wigan Athletic also having been arranged in the wake of him failing to win a contract at either White Hart Lane or the Hawthorns. However, he had to withdraw with a shoulder injury before being able to link up with the Latics.

Turnbull added: “Hull have tabled an offer for Mat as a result of his good form in the Hyundai A-League, selection for the Socceroos as well as his undoubted potential.”

Meanwhile, Tom Cairney, who has not played since August due to a knee problem, is set to return to training in the next fortnight to hand Bruce a second timely injury boost in the past week following Jack Hobbs’s first outing in seven months. Hobbs damaged his cruciate ligament in March.