Football Robins expected to bring back Adelakun from Hull loan spell
HAKEEB Adelakun will this week be recalled by Bristol City from Hull City, the Bristol Post understands.
The winger is on a season-long loan at the KCOM Stadium from the Championship club, but the Robins will this week exercise their right to bring the 24-year-old back to Ashton Gate during the January transfer window.
It had been reported in Hull that the winger was set to stay there for the rest of the campaign and was eager to carry on playing for Grant McCann, but City hope to give him first-team opportunities in the weeks ahead with 10 players out injured.
Adelakun scored in Hull’s game against Charlton on Saturday to take his tally to three goals in 17 matches this season.
City are recalling most of their loan players as they deal with mounting injuries, especially across midfield.
Left-back Cameron Pring was confirmed as being recalled from Portsmouth on Sunday evening, when veteran Chris Brunt was released, following a bad calf tear sustained against Rotherham in early December.
James Morton and Owura Edwards returned from Grimsby Town last week, while Swansea City loanee Kasey Palmer is expected to also rejoin Bristol City in the coming days, as the Robins take advantage of their huge squad and with little money to spend given the season has been vastly affected by Covid-19.
Young players Saikou Janneh, Louis Britton and Brad Webb have all returned to BS3 too, as has Marley Watkins from Aberdeen -
though the attacking midfielder has a hamstring injury.
Pring’s return from Portsmouth follows recent news that firstchoice left-back Jay Dasilva will be out for a long period after undergoing surgery on a shin injury.
Tommy Rowe has been used as Dasilva’s replacement on the left side of defence, and Pring has been brought back to BS3 to provide cover and competition for places.
Pring made nine appearances for Kenny Jackett’s side in League One, six as a starter, continuing his progress after impressing on loan at League Two Walsall last season.
In a perfect world, City would have preferred the 22-year-old to have spent the season on the south coast before placing him in firstteam contention for 2021-22.
But such are the demands now being placed on the squad, as fixtures and injuries mount up, that head coach Dean Holden has had to call on reinforcements.
That alarming injury list had included Brunt, who on Sunday had his contract cancelled due to a calf injury which has ruled him out for at least the next three months.
Brunt signed a free agent at the start of the season on a one-year contract and the former Northern Ireland international made 12 appearances for City.
“I’d like to thank Chris for his contribution since joining us,” said CEO Mark Ashton. “Unfortunately, the injury means he will miss the majority of the remaining season and we felt it was in both our interests to end the agreement now.”
City’s next fixture is against Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round at Ashton Gate on Sunday, although Pring is cup-tied having already played in the competition for Pompey.