Thelwell Signs New Contract

Alton Thelwell - on the comeback trail (Photo © Hull City Online)

The injury plagued defender is finally on the comeback trail, and followed his half-match stint for the reserves last week by playing for over an hour yesterday against Hartlepool reserves. City lost that match 6-2, with Russell Fry scoring twice, but action for Thelwell, and loan signing Alan Rogers who played the full 90 minutes, were bonuses for Peter Taylor.

He has now rewarded 25-year-old Thelwell with a chance of the first team, signing him up until the end of the season.

His contract had run out in the summer after just 26 starts in two injury ravaged seasons, the last of those appearances coming in October 2004. He had stayed with the club to get back to fitness, and now he is his Tigers career could be set to continue.

His return to action could be quite timely due to problems at right-back. Since Jason Price's move to Doncaster, Ryan France is likely to be deployed as a winger on a more regular basis. With Marc Joseph also leaving earlier this month, and Mark Lynch, Robbie Stockdale and Scott Wiseman out of favour with Taylor, Thelwell could be given a chance in the coming weeks. The former Tottenham Hotspur man is also capable of playing in central defence and midfield.