Hull sign striker Amr Zaki on loan from Zamalek

Hull have signed Egypt striker Amr Zaki on loan until the end of the season from home-country side Zamalek.

While terms have been agreed with the player and his club, Hull are still waiting for a work permit to be confirmed for the 26-year-old.

The Tigers hope he will be available for the game with Wolves on 30 January.

Last season Zaki scored 11 goals when on loan at Wigan but upset then manager Steve Bruce after returning late from international duty four times.

"He had a chequered background with Wigan last year and there's obviously a risk element in such a deal," Hull chairman Adam Pearson told the Hull Daily Mail.

"But we feel that the boy has something to prove and hopefully we'll see a hungry player.

"The team is working ever so hard defensively and across the side but we feel that we need a goal threat in the final third."

Zaki is not at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt because of injury, although he is now fit to start full training.

Hull are 18th in the Premier League and have collected four points in their last seven games.

Stephen Hunt has been the club's most potent attacker, with five goals in 21 appearances, and manager Phil Brown has been keen to add to firepower to his squad.

Manchester City's Ecuadorian forward Felipe Caicedo had been a target before he joined Spanish side Malaga on loan earlier this month.

But Brown could also lose some attacking options before the transfer window closes.

He has been asked by Pearson to reduce the club's wage bill by about £9m and has admitted he will allow strikers Caleb Folan and Daniel Cousin to leave.

Egyptian side Zamalek had claimed last week they were close to agreeing a deal for Stoke City to take Zaki back to the Premier League.

On his previous stay in England, Zaki failed to land a permanent deal with Wigan and, following a fourth fine for failing to report back on time from his time away with the Egypt team, Bruce labelled Zaki "the most unprofessional player I have ever worked with".

Prior to that, the current Sunderland boss had been singing his praises after Zaki scored eight goals in his first 10 games in England.