Hull City boss Phil Brown has confirmed their push for Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead.

Brown said: "We have made an inquiry for Dean Whitehead. It is something we have been identifying in the past 18 months, players who can come in and strengthen the side.

"We have identified probably four or five players and Dean is one of them.

"As I have said, we have made enquiries and they will be ongoing during the month of January."

Whitehead or an alternative may well be needed at the KC Stadium sooner rather than later after George Boateng suffered suspected knee ligament damage at St James' Park on a night when Hull reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years.