Brighton and Hove Albion have recalled goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from his loan with Hull City, with the shot-stopper set to make the journey back to the Premier League side ahead of this weekend. The news comes as a hammer blow to the Tigers, who thought they would be able to keep hold of the goalkeeper having elevated him to be their number one and were working on the theory that the Seagulls would allow him to stay at the MKM Stadium after initial conversations earlier this month.

City boss Ruben Selles is understood to be bitterly disappointed by the loss of his keeper, with the Tigers now facing an issue on what they do in January in their goalkeeping department. Anthony Racioppi had looked all set to depart the club this month, but is now expected to return to the first team fold, at least for the time being to provide cover.

Hull Live understands that with just over a week to go until the window closes, there could yet be movement in that area. Ivor Pandur, who has spent the majority of the season in goal for the Tigers while Rushworth was on the treatment bench, is expected to regain his number one position and be in goal Friday night when City head to Sheffield United, with Swiss stopper Racioppi back in the picture.

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Rushworth had played just three times for City since his move from Brighton and he will now return to his parent club to provide competition for competition for Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele. The Halifax-born gloveman endured a nightmare start to life at City after arriving on deadline day in the summer, having to wait to make his debut.

He was due to start against Sunderland in October put picked up a serious ankle injury the day before in training which kept him sidelined for three months, going on to make his debut in the FA Cup clash with Doncaster Rovers earlier this month.

He then kept his place at Millwall, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win at The Den on Saturday, before playing again on Tuesday night in the defeat to QPR on his home league debut.

"I'm always having conversations (with Brighton)," he told Hull Live on Saturday. "We've made it clear that I just need to play, especially missing so much of the season as I have done with the games remaining; I just need to play and get as much game time under my belt. Getting the clean sheets and the wins is always going to be a bonus for that, so I just made it clear that I just need to play.

"I said that I'm happy to play. That's the main thing I just need to play, and if I get the opportunity here, then that's perfect for me. I'm happy at the moment, and I'm really focused on trying to get out of this situation that we're in because, with the quality that we've got in the changing room, we shouldn't be in this situation.”