O'Neill: Elmo Could Be Recalled

Ahmed Elmohamady has spent virtually the entire season on loan at Hull City, and he could be recalled from it according to Martin O'Neill if he doesn't sign enough players during the January transfer window.

According to the Hull Daily Mail this morning O'Neill has said;

It might be that if we have been unable to add the players I was hoping to add in this window, then we might have to recall Elmohamady.

As far as his position is concerned, we have an opportunity - a bit like the one with Danny Rose, Tottenham and us - where we have a clause which means we can call him back this month if we want to.

Hull keeping Elmohamady long-term is something that has not been discussed up to this point between ourselves and them.

But we have raised the point with them that if we can't get players in, he might have to return.

It would seem an odd one to to have Elmo come back to be honest. I understand he's done very well at Hull and is establishing himself as a fan favourite. Recalling him wouldn't make a huge deal of sense though.

To me this looks like O'Neill pressuring Hull into making a permanent move for the Egyptian international. O'Neill threatened to recall David Meyler earlier and has now allowed him to make a permanent transfer to the Tigers, and it looks like the same is on the cards here.

Elmo simply doesn't really fit in here any more. Should anything happen to one of our wingers we're pretty well covered with Fraizer Campbell (for now) and Seb Larsson going back to his natural wing position. Especially if we're after a new central midfielder as reports suggest, then that's the only place the Swede could fit in.

Overall this looks like a very thinly veiled threat and not one we should put too much stock in. With Elmo enjoying life on Humberside and us not really needing him too much, hopefully the transfer becomes permanent sooner rather than later.