HULL CITY: Jay Simpson back in attack as Barmby searches for a spark Jay Simpson will be handed a chance to resurrect his Hull City career by caretaker boss Nick Barmby. The 23-year-old returned to training with the Tigers yesterday, and is in contention for a role in Saturday's FA Cup clash with Ipswich at the KC Stadium. It comes as Barmby looks to add an extra spark to his frontline, having failed to find the net in their last three games. City continue to be linked with a move for Doncaster Rovers hitman Billy Sharp. However, both Barmby and head of football Adam Pearson have distanced themselves, suggesting he may not suit City's style of play, and could be too costly. With that in mind, Barmby is keen to look at Simpson again before dipping into the market. "Jay has come back to Hull and Nick Barmby is keen to take a fresh look at him," said Uben Gray, Simpson's agent. "He is a like-minded player to Nick when he played, in that he liked to drop deep and look for the ball there. "Jay is in a similar mould and Nick thinks he can do a job for him." Signed by Nigel Pearson in a cut-price deal of around £50,000 back in August 2010, Simpson failed to live up to high expectations on his shoulders. He scored just six goals in 19 appearances, before being loaned out to Millwall, where he has found the net four times in 13 starts. It is a period which Gray believes has benefited Simpson, and he says he sees his return to the KC as a 'fresh start'. "He had a good spell at Millwall and regained match-fitness, but he's pleased to be back and he's raring to go," Gray added. "It's a fresh start under a new manager, but it's very much a case of business as usual for Jay." Despite rumours of City having made a bid for Doncaster's Sharp, agent Willie McKay, who controls all transfers at the Keepmoat Stadium, says there has been no offer tabled by the Tigers. "We have had nothing from Hull at all, not even a discussion about Billy," McKay told the Mail. "There has been one firm offer made for Billy from a different club and we have rejected that." McKay admitted Sharp has a clause in his contract with a set fee allowing him to speak to interested clubs. Chairman John Ryan has claimed this stands at £3m, but reports say it could be £1.85m. "There is a clause yes, but that is Billy's business. I am not going to say what that figure is," he said. Whilst Simpson is returning to bolster City's attacking options, the Tigers also yesterday turned to another old boy in Vito Mannone to solve their goalkeeping crisis ahead of the weekend. With Newcastle unwilling to allow Steve Harper to play in the FA Cup, City moved to agree a third spell at the KC for the 23-year-old until the end of the season. It comes as the Tigers closed in on reaching an agreement with Manchester United for winger Robbie Brady to return until the end of the season, and for another of the club's youngsters, striker Joshua King, to come with him. The 19-year-old Norwegian, who had a spell at Preston last season, can play both central and wide forward positions. He signed a new two-year deal at Old Trafford in the summer, having netted eight goals in 16 games in the reserves under Warren Joyce. Richard Garcia has confirmed via his twitter account that he has signed a new City deal until the end of the season. http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/story-14332296-detail/story.html
I remember thinking it could be a possibility, but kept quiet. Then somebody spelt it out - was that you?
There was nothing to keep quiet - it was all over here that he was staying at Millwall, I just pointed out that NB wanted him to come back and was prepared to give him a chance, that has now proved to be the case.
I'm happy to see him back here and given another chance, a new manager here might get the best out of him.
Yeah I can see Stewart been rested at the weekend after the amount of games he's played after coming back from injury. Might be able to see it for the Peterborough match where Jay could get a place on the bench, where in all honesty we've been crying out for a striker to come on later on in games to give us something different up front.
I will be holding hope on him , but he IMO he is very much like McLean - can hit a barn door with a reach pole. Not prolific, and that's what we need.
Trouble with prolific is you need to spend upward of 2 million on one player and that doesnt look likely
10 goals in 32 games for Hull City and Millwall - a strike rate of 1 in 3 is not bad at all. ffs, Simpson was slaughtered by NP last season So lets see what happens to OJ under Nick as manager. If it works its another in the eye for NP and some of his methods whilst here. imo.
To be fair, Millwall have picked up a far better player(Harry Kane) from Spurs, on loan. They may regret not signing OJ as well ? time will tell.
True. But with City getting Brady back and possibly King now - Overall i think City are much stronger with many options now open to Nick.
Yeah we dont need Kane & King - Harry was just someone who got my attention and thought would have been a good punt at the time (before King's name was mentioned). Hopefully the King loan will pay off as the footage I have seen of him looks fairly promising. I do fear with the King & Brady loans and another winger coming in that Cameron Stewart may be on his way out
