Dean Windass scored the goal that took Hull City to the Premier League – could he repeat the trick and keep us there?
Windass, though back at Hull City playing for the reserves and travelling with the first team to games, is still of course registered with Oldham Athletic until the end of the season.
However, the Latics have stumbled badly since Christmas and are now way off the promotion picture, eight points off Scunthorpe United in the last play-off spot having played two games more.
So it looks like Oldham’s season – and presumably Windass’ registration with them – will finish on May 2.
Hull City still have three games to play after that date – Stoke City at home, Bolton Wanderers away and Manchester United at home – and presumably 40-year-old Deano will thus be available for selection.
I say ‘presumably’ as there has been no official word on this on the club’s website, and the Football League rules online don’t say whether a season-long loan ends when the parent club’s season finishes or the receiving club.
Windass was way down the pecking order when at The Circle earlier this season, but with Marlon King gone, Daniel Cousin and Caleb Folan hardly unfamiliar with injuries, and the rift with Phil Brown seemingly healed, it seems almost certain he’d at least be on the bench for those crucial last three games.
Forget about Alan Shearer returning to Newcastle United – Deano back in the Hull City line-up would be the returning messiah moment of this season.
UPDATE With Hull City’s game at Aston Villa being moved to Monday, May 4 – after Oldham’s season finishes – it means Windass will presumably be available for this game too.
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