The Tigers have made a key change to their squad on the first day of the January transfer window.
Hull City were granted permission to register James Furlong in their EFL Championship squad ahead of the New Year’s Day showdown with Stoke City at the MKM Stadium.
Furlong, who has endured a nightmare 2025 because of injury, has not yet played a Championship game for the Tigers more than two years after arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Irishman, however, is fit again and has been training with Sergej Jakirovic’s squad in recent weeks and could get his chance in the coming weeks with Ryan Giles out injured.
Hull Live understands Giles could be set to miss the next three weeks with a hamstring injury he sustained in the win at Middlesbrough on Monday night.
As it stands, the Tigers are not planning on attempting to bring in cover during January’s transfer window, which opened on Thursday, with Giles not expected to be missing for too long.
Furlong, 23, has made just one senior appearance for the Tigers, and that came in an FA Cup replay at Birmingham City in January 2024 under ex-manager, Liam Rosenior. He ended last term on loan at AFC Wimbledon, but missed their play-off final win at Wembley because of injury.
His last appearance in a Championship squad came against Norwich City in January 2024, though he did make 30 appearances in League Two for the Dons last season.
Elsewhere in Jakirovic’s first starting XI of 2026, Oli McBurnie and Liam Millar return to the line-up after being left on the bench at Boro. Aside from Giles, Joel Ndala was also dropped to the bench.
There was no place in the matchday squad for Cody Drameh, despite being fit once again. Drameh is expected to leave the club in the coming days, to allow City to sign goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
Hull City’s starting XI to take on Stoke City: Pandur, Famewo, Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Slater, Crooks, Gyabi, Joseph, Millar, McBurnie:
On the bench: Phillips, Akintola, Ndala, Amir, Furlong, Destan, Ashbee, Palmer, McCarthy.
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