City swoop for Okocha

Hull set to land former World Cup star

By Stephen Bramley   Last updated: 4th September 2007

Jay-Jay Okocha Aug 06

Okocha: Set to sign

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Former Nigeria international Jay-Jay Okocha is set to join Hull City on Tuesday.

Tigers boss Phil Brown confirmed that the club had called a press conference for 3pm when it is expected they will confirm the capture of the former Bolton midfielder.

The 34-year-old watched from the directors' box as Hull went down to a 2-1 defeat to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Monday night.

`"We have had talks and there will be a press conference at Hull City tomorrow with Jay-Jay," Brown told The Hull Daily Mail.

Creativity

"I think he is the sort of player who will give us the creativity we need in midfield."

Okocha, who appeared in three World Cups, won over 70 caps with Nigeria. He has been playing for Qatar SC since his release by former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce last summer.

The expected arrival of Okocha was overshadowed by a serious injury to City's debutant Caleb Folan.

Hospital

The £1million striker was taken to hospital after being involved in a clash of heads with Blackpool defender Kaspars Gorkss.

The game was held up for almost 10 minutes as the striker received treatment.

He is now expected to spend 24 hours in hospital recovering from the injury.

Worrying

Brown added: ``It was very worrying he appeared to be unconscious for a couple of minutes but he was talking as they led him out of the ground on a stretcher.''

Former City man Ben Burgess compounded the misery for his former club by netting the winner in the eighth minute of injury-time to give Blackpool the points.

Meanwhile, City are also believed to be lining up a bid to land Wigan's 27-year-old defender Fitz Hall on loan.

Hall has been restricted to only one appearance for Chris Hutchings' side in the Carling Cup this season.