Will Atkinson has left Hull City for a second loan spell this season, but this time with a view to a permanent deal.

The 23 year old winger, who came through the ranks but has never seen his career at the Circle take off, has joined League Two nonentities Bradford City for the rest of the season prior to an expected permanent switch in the summer.

Atkinson was recalled early from a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle only two weeks ago by Nick Barmby, though clearly now this was because Bradford’s interest in signing the player long-term was more attractive to both the Tigers and Atkinson than anything the financially-impotent Pilgrims could manage. The move to West Yorkshire will be the player’s sixth and final loan spell away from the KC.

It allows Atkinson to team up with former City boss Phil Parkinson at Valley Parade, where he will find other familiar faces in Matt Duke and Craig Fagan. His only notable period in the first team came under manager-that-wasn’t Iain Dowie at the end of City’s spell in the Premier League, when he even had the gall to score a goal in a 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic. In total he made eight first team appearances for the club.