Manchester United and Ireland U21 international winger Robbie Brady will stay at Hull City until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old Dublin born player has scored one goal from 22 appearances since joining Hull on loan at the start of the season.
Tigers caretaker boss Nick Barmby said: "We've got a great platform for him to really kick on now.
"We spoke to [Manchester United] direct and the manager's been different class with us and hopefully that relationship will continue."
Brady is set to play for the Tigers in the FA Cup tie against Ipswich Town.
The former St.Kevin's Boys winger will now spend the remainder of the 2011/12 campaign with the Tigers and will hope to play a leading role in their promotion push.
Ireland U21 international Robbie Brady could have scored a hat-trick, but ended up without a goal to his name on Saturday, as Hull beat Portsmouth 1-0 at the KC Stadium.
The Manchester United on-loan winger was thwarted three times by Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown, whose heroics were enough to limit the Tigers to just one goal, scored by the equally impressive Robert Koren early in the first-half.
Dublin born Brady, who is on loan with Hull until the end of the year, was the most potent attacking force for Nigel Pearson's side and had two curled efforts saved by the superb Ashdown. The stopper also prevented the Irish youngster from close-range following a chaotic goalmouth scramble.
Brady has been turning heads all over the Championship with his superb displays for Hull and has caught the eye of commentators and pundits alike, who are tipping the young winger for a massive career ahead.
Hull have announced the signing of Irish Under-21 winger Robbie Brady on loan from Manchester United.
The 19-year-old Dublin born player, who can also play as a striker, has joined the Tigers until the end of the calendar year.
The highly-rated player was an influential member of United's 2009 Milk Cup-winning squad, scoring five goals in the prestigious youth tournament.
He also helped the Red Devils' second string win the Barclays Premier Reserve League North title last season.
Brady is highly rated at Old Trafford and the coaching staff are keen for him to get more games under his belt. Hull and the Championship are ideal for him to do that.
Brady has not travelled with the Irish Under 19 squad for the European Championships in Romania that start on Wednesday but this move to Hull will see him play more first-team football and should speed his progression through the Irish ranks.
The former St Kevin's Boys player has long been tipped for the top, and turned down the advances of a host of Premier League clubs to choose the Red Devils in 2008.
Brady has been a part of Ireland's international youth set-up for the last five years, progressing throuth the u15,u17 & u19 teams and made his u21 debut in the European u21 qualifier against Switzerland in September last year.
Ireland’s Stephen Hunt won Player of the Year in his previous two seasons at both Reading and Hull. But he hopes he won’t make it a treble at Wolves – after both clubs were relegated in the same season.
Hunt is the only one of boss Mick McCarthy’s summer signings who hasn’t played for his new club yet and it is likely to be October before he finally makes his debut.
But hopes are high that the Portlaoise born winger will have a similar impact on Wolves that he had on his the Royals and the Tigers – and quickly banish any thoughts of a struggle against the drop.
“I didn’t think anyone was going to pick up on that!” said the 29-year-old when asked about the statistic.
“It’s been frustrating to win Player of the Season and get relegated twice. “Perhaps it’s a bad omen but we’ll see how we go here.”
Maybe Hull would have stayed up had Hunt been fit after suffering a foot injury from a Ronald Zubar challenge against Wolves in January.
“The last two and a half months of the season were out of my hands really,” said Hunt, whose six goals up to that point made him Hull’s top scorer.
“It was very frustrating but Hull were very good about the whole situation and with what I wanted to do, so I thank them for that.”
Now relieved to be among more faces he knows at Wolves, Hunt, who signed a three-year deal at Molineux, believes familiarity can breed success as Wolves look to build on last season’s 15th-placed finish.
Married to Kevin Doyle’s cousin, Hunt forms a former Reading quartet with Doyle, Marcus Hahnemann and Greg Halford.
He also rooms with Andy Keogh on Ireland trips, from where he also knows Kevin Foley, while he has bumped into fellow Irishman Stephen Ward enough times to call him a friend and has played against most Wolves players.
“I’ve got an awful lot of friends here, which helped me settle in,” said Hunt.
“Kevin and Marcus are obvious ones, but there’s Andy and Kevin Foley I know through Ireland and I’ve met Stephen a few times so I know him very well.”
After failing with four bids rising to £5m in January, Wolves’ faith in Hunt was amplified by signing him when he was still three months away from being fit following the complicate foot injury.
It was some statement – and the 29-year-old is anxious to repay McCarthy.
“They came in when I’m not fit which shows they’ve got so much faith in me,” he said.
“They really wanted me which made me really want to come here – but I always wanted to come here anyway.”
With Matt Jarvis adapted to the Premier League and Michael Kightly nearing full fitness again, Hunt knows to battle for his place.
But confidence is not something he is short of and the bubbly character believes his all-action as well as his goal threat will impress at Wolves.
“I’ve got competition because a few of the lads finished last season strongly and they did a good job so I’ve got to get my head down and do my bit,” he said.
“The players who played last season will get better this time too because they have had the experience of a year at this level.
“But we need to add to it as well and hopefully I can do my bit.
“When you play midfield in the modern game you have to have a bit of everything.
“Hopefully I can score the same amount of goals if not more once I stay injury-free.
“I want to set up a few goals for Kevin Doyle or whoever is playing up front and to get plenty of crosses into the box, that’s my job really.”
Having played together at Reading for four years, Doyle is looking forward to linking up with him again.
“As well as his qualities on the pitch, he’ll be a boost off the pitch as well because he’s lively and a very good fellow,” said the striker.
“He’ll be good for keeping everyone positive as well as playing well on the pitch.
“We had a lot of success at Reading – he’s a good player and he’s easy for team-mates to play with.”
Wolves will step up their bid to sign Hull City winger Stephen Hunt this weekend.
Mick McCarthy looks set to return to the Tigers to further strengthen his squad for a second Premier League campaign with a move for Hunt.
Despite recently hinting his interest in the Ireland winger may have waned, it is understood that McCarthy is determined to have him in his squad next season.
Hunt, who is married to the sister of Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, missed the latter stages of City's season with a foot injury which will also entirely rule him out of pre-season.
A potential return date has been estimated as October at the earliest, although there are some fears it could be Christmas before he is ready to make a full return.
But a source close to the player has told the Mail that initial discussions have been held between the two clubs in recent days during negotiations over Mouyokolo's move.
And it is thought those talks will advance with a view to a deal being struck for Hunt in the next seven days.
Hunt's injury, combined with City's obvious need to sell, will prevent the Tigers from securing anywhere near the £5m offered by Wolves in January for the recently-crowned player of the season. But it is thought Wolves could yet beat the £3.5m offer already made by West Brom.
Sunderland and Ireland defender Paul McShane has been given a fresh chance to revive his career with a second move to Hull City.
The former Manchester United trainee, who spent five months on loan at the KC Stadium last season, has agreed personal terms with Phil Brown and was having a medical last night to complete a £1.5 million move.
Currently recovering from knee surgery, Wicklow born McShane is expected to resume training next week.
Hull City assistant manager Brian Horton said: "Macca was terrific with us when he was last here. He's one player we've looked at. I'm sure there'll be movement before the window closes."
IT was, without doubt, the result of the week on the international stage and Caleb Folan is determined to use Ireland's draw in Italy as a springboard towards helping Hull City to safety.
The Tigers striker came off the bench midway through the first half on Wednesday night and capped an impressive display by playing a part in Robbie Keane's late equaliser.
In contrast to his exploits with Ireland, Folan's domestic season has been dogged by injury and loss of form with his only goal of the season having come in the opening-day win at home to Fulham.
However, after helping the Irish silence a partisan home crowd in Bari, the 26-year-old is now hoping to play a full part in keeping City in the Premier League.
He said: "Being away gave me the opportunity to play a bit. It also gave me the chance to experience a different kind of football at international level.
"You are up against players with different styles of play and that helps to prepare you for what is to come in the remainder of the season.
"Getting on to the pitch gave me that bit of a boost and a bit of confidence. Hopefully, I can bring that back here and perform in the same way.
"You get a lot of time to yourself when you are away and that gives you an opportunity to reflect. You often think about the games that are coming up for your club and we want to be a Premier League team next season.
"You have time to think about what you need to do and we know we have to start winning a few games."
Hull City & Ireland striker Caleb Folan has withdrawn from the Ireland squad for next month's World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
The 26-year-old has only recently returned to action following knee surgery and has informed manager Geovanni Trapattoni that he does not yet feel ready to play at Croke Park on February 11.
Folan had a minor operation in early December and has featured only twice since as a substitute in FA Cup ties against Newcastle and Millwall this month. Folan said: "I won't be going over there, it's still a bit too soon."
He added: "I have spoken to the Irish manager about my situation at the minute and I am trying to work on my fitness, so it might not be the right time for me to go over there this time around.
"I've spoken to Trapattoni and he believes I'll still be very much in his plans.
"I'm just hoping I can get my fitness right and be ready for the coming Ireland games."
Eleven years on from winning his first Ireland cap, a hunger for international football continues to inspire Kevin Kilbane.
Fearful of damaging his prospects by sitting in the Wigan shadows, January needed to bring a fresh challenge. With the promise of first-team football, a £500,000 move to Hull City has delivered Kilbane's wish. And while preserving City's Premier League status remains his more pressing concern, Kilbane hopes a two-and-a-half year deal can help bring personal glory on the international stage.
Just eight caps short of a century, the 31-year-old is second only to Steve Staunton in Ireland's all-time appearance list.
Given the magnitude of the looming milestone, Kilbane is understandably reluctant to tempt fate. But with fresh challenges bringing a skip to his step, the winger has boosted his chances.
"If you're not playing regular club football then you're putting your international place in jeopardy" said Kilbane.
"Getting to 100 is something that's been mentioned to me in the past and it's something that I've always tried to play down.
"Just to get one cap is really an amazing achievement.
"I'll see how it goes and hopefully I can play regular football now.
"If it comes then brilliant but if I don't get to 100, then I'll still be very happy with what I've achieved in international football."
Since making his Ireland bow against Iceland in 1997, Kilbane has enjoyed a rich history on the international stage.
Facing Montenegro last year, he featured in his 50th consecutive competitive game for his country - only England's Billy Wright and Theo Zagorakis of Greece have achieved longer unbroken runs.
Within the game, his unassuming nature and commitment has made him a popular figure in the trenches and a reliable stalwart for a string of managers.
Away from football, Kilbane shows a similar passion for his charity work.
In 2004, daughter Elsie was born with Down's Syndrome and her father works tirelessly as a patron for the condition's leading charity.
Nearing his 32nd birthday, Kilbane still has an enthusiasm reserved for the young.
Arriving as City's first January signing this week, he walked out on Wigan's impressive campaign for a side heading in the opposite direction.
But in signing for the Tigers, Kilbane could not be happier.
"If I'm being truthful, it was probably a couple of months ago I began thinking it was time for a change" he said.
"Even when things weren't going well for Wigan this season, I still wasn't getting in the side.
"I began to get a good feeling that you're not going to be selected over the coming months. You know when the writing is on the wall.
"As soon as I knew of Hull's interest, I wanted to come over and play."
Steve Finnan's £1million move to Hull City fell through last night after a medical revealed a deep-seated problem with his left thigh.
The Ireland international suffered the injury in November and has struggled to figure for Espanyol since. The former Liverpool right back, 32, has also seen moves to Tottenham and Blackburn on loan dashed because the Spanish club were demanding a fee.
It is another blow to Hull manager Phil Brown’s bid to recruit experienced players.
Paul McShane is on top of the world and, against all odds, looking down on relegation.
At the start of the season when McShane accepted a loan deal to Phil Brown's newly promoted Hull City side many expected that the Kilpedder man was going to be in for a long hard season. But the overachievers have surprised everyone and currently sit in eigth place in the Premier League.
And McShane couldn't be happier at the moment and admits that he's enjoying his football now more than at any other point in his career.
'Yeah I'm enjoying it. I've enjoyed every minute of it since I've come here it's been a good experience and the team's done well overall and we've had a bit of a dip in form lately but we have to get back on track and try to get as many points on the board as we can.
'Definitely. When you're playing you'll always enjoy your football more. It's all about playing at the end of the day. But yeah, I'm definitely enjoying it a lot more.'
The 23-year-old also says he doesn't mind too much where he plays on the pitch, as long as he plays.
'I don't know really, I don't know what my position is right now. I was a centre back like, but I've played all season at right back now and I suppose that's my position for the time being but anywhere across the back four really,' stated the modest youngster before adding tongue in cheek: 'And up front, fancy myself as a bit of a striker as well, ahh no I'm only joking.'
One thing a player will never joke about is his future though and the former Manchester United man confesses he hasn't put too much thought into whether or not he will be a Black Cat or a Tiger come next season.
'I'm not sure, I'm really not sure. I'm just taking it easy, I'm just enjoying myself at the moment I haven't really put much thought into where I'll be or whatever in the next few months. I'm just enjoying myself here at the moment and we'll see what happens.'
McShane's stay at Hull could come to a premature end however as new Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia has admitted he's thinking about bringing the Republic of Ireland international back to the Stadium of Light, and he has until the end of the January transfer window to decide. One man who'll be hoping McShane remains at Hull until the end of the season however is manager Phil Brown, and he is a man who has left a mark on 'Macca'.
'He's done well, he's done very well. We've had an incredible start and he's done really well. He has impressed me since I've come here. He's very concentrated, he's specific to detail and he prepares brilliantly so I have to say he's done really well.'
Brown was of course the manager who decided to hold his half-time team talk on the pitch on St. Stephen's Day after Hull went into the break trailing 4-0 to Manchester City and McShane says he can understand his manager's reasoning.
'I felt like a little kid again! But the performance wasn't there in the first-half so everybody was disappointed and I think it was just to give us a kick up the backside really.'
If performances like that continue Hull could find themselves rapidly dropping down the table and the 6ft star is well aware of that prospect.
'You never know. We're lying eigth at the moment and we just want to keep looking ahead of us really. We just want to keep getting points on the board as I said before. We just have to re-group now and put things right.'
Putting his club situation aside for a minute, the former St. David's student spoke fondly of his achievements so far with Ireland having already won 13 caps but admits it won't be easy to force his way into Giovanni Trapattoni's plans when the Italian has a fully fit squad to choose from.
'Yeah it's pretty good. I just want to keep notching up as many caps as I can and there's some important games coming up for the Irish team and I want to be involved in them. I just want to keep playing.
'I don't know. There's a lot of competition at the back so I'll just keep plugging away, keep cracking away at it and hopefully he'll give me a chance. So all I can do is keep cracking away at it.'
Of course you can't discuss the Ireland team without discussing a certain Mr. Stephen Ireland and McShane, like most of us, wants to see the Man. City star back in a green jersey as soon as possible.
'Yeah of course. Of course I would. He's a great player and he's having a great season and we can only benefit from his talent so hopefully he does come back.'
One thing McShane must hate about playing for Ireland is the unjust amount of criticism he receives, mainly from Eamonn Dunphy, but it's like water off a duck's back to the 11 and a half stone defender.
'I just think that's football. You've always got a question mark over you no matter who you are. You'll always have your critics but it's part of the game. It's part of the modern game.
'You've just got to take it. You're not going to be everybody's flavour of the month. You're not going to keep everyone happy but that's just life in general isn't it?'
While he mightn't have found the net in those 13 appearances for Ireland, he has managed to score for Hull this season, coming against Premier League leaders at Liverpool and as expected, he was pretty happy with it.
'It was great. It was brilliant. It was my first goal in the Premier League and it was a special moment. I had got concussion a little bit before it - well not concussion just slight concussion - and then my eyesight sort of went when I got the knock on my head so I had to get taken off so it was a high and a low for me. '
Although that goal caused the Anfield men to drop two points, McShane says he would like to see them lift the Premier League come May as it's been a long wait for the Merseyside club.
One man who could be a big help to Liverpool's title charge is Fernando Torres, and McShane admits the Spaniard is the toughest opponent he's ever faced.
'Fernando Torres. He was probably the toughest. He's an overall great player. He's very clever and he's got great skill as well and he's also very quick.'
Whether at Sunderland or Hull City, the chirpy youngster is going to come up against many more players of top quality, and this will surely only make him even stronger.
