WILKS HITS HULL OF A WINNER

MALLIK WILKS celebrated signing for Hull by scoring the dramatic stoppage-time winner that hauled them out of the Championship relegation zone. Wilks, who signed a two-year deal hours before kick-off, pounced on Hull captain Jordy de Wijs’ knockdown to apply a predatory poke into the top corner. ‘He didn’t know if he was coming or going over the last couple of days,’ said manager Grant McCann after seeing his team win for the first time in 14 league fixtures stretching back to New Year’s Day. ‘It’s been tough for him but he will be a big player for us over the next couple of years.’

Hull agreed a permanent switch for the 21-year-old Barnsley winger in January as part of a loan deal, but the shutdown complicated the the transfer and it was only resolved yesterday following talks between the clubs. Wilks was also instrumental in Hull’s opening goal, drawing the foul from Marvin Johnson for Liverpool loanee Herbie Kane to bend in a stunning free-kick. That eighth-minute equaliser followed a high-octane start from Middlesbrough in their second match under Neil Warnock. The recalled Hayden Coulson went down under the challenge of De Wijs in the area and Britt Assombalonga sent George Long the wrong way from the penalty spot to end a 12-game goal drought. Hull overcame the loss of Kane to a hamstring injury and Callum Elder to concussion during the first half to plunge another former Premier League club, Stoke, into the drop zone and leave Middlesbrough fourth from bottom. ‘I would have been disappointed coming here and getting a point,’ said Warnock. ‘I have told the players that I don’t think they could have worked any harder to lose that game.’