Hull manager Phil Brown has given Republic of Irleand striker Caleb Folan the green light to leave the club after enquiries from Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Folan has been left out of the 20-man squad for the game at Sunderland tomorrow.

He had previously started all four of the club’s Premier League games this season.

The arrivals of fellow forwards Kamil Ghilas, Jozy Altidore and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink have increased competition up front and although the transfer window is now shut, Brown hinted a loan deal could be close, with other fringe players potentially following.

“Championship clubs are beckoning for maybe four or five of our players and maybe some need to go out on loan,” he said.

“There’s been an enquiry for Caleb from Middlesbrough and also an enquiry from

Newcastle,” said Brown. “I’ve spoken to (Boro boss) Gareth Southgate on two or three occasions and now we’re leaving it to the business men to draft a deal.

“We’ve also had an enquiry from Reading for Bryan Hughes and for Daniel Cousin from Newcastle. We’ve had a number of enquiries about players who are not in the squad, that’s football.”

He continued: “If you look around most clubs are rounding their squads out to about 25. You can only play 11 so that means 14 unhappy bunnies.

“I heard a sound byte on the radio from Daniel Cousin saying ‘I have no problem with Phil Brown’. Well, if you do have a problem, there’s only one answer, you move on.”