EFL grant Hull City 'special' green-light for player ahead of Middlesbrough play-off final | OneFootball

David Akintola could now feature for the Tigers in North London

Hull City are now 48 hours away from featuring in the most lucrative game world football can offer for the first time in 10 years, having defied the odds to reach the Championship play-off final.

The Tigers have been unfancied for the vast majority of the campaign by outsiders, even after spending 24 consecutive matches inside the second tier's play-off places between January and April, before returning to sixth on the final day and subsequently defeating Millwall over two legs in the play-off semi-finals.

However, the 2-0 victory against Alex Neil's side at The Den on Monday, May 11th, certainly feels a lifetime ago for many City supporters given the off-field drama, which has gone beyond seismic, involving Saturday's opponents and Southampton as a result of the well-documented spygate scandal.

Indeed, Kim Hellberg's side have been reinstated into the 40th edition of the post-season promotion lottery after a league arbitration panel upheld Saints' appeal against their expulsion from the play-offs and an upcoming four-point deduction for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign after admitting to multiple breaches of unauthorised filming of training sessions within a 72-hour timespan of kick-off.

Beforehand, Jakirovic and City owner, Acun Ilicali, each had plenty to say about how the debacle has impacted their pre-game preparations, and there have been reports that a legal challenge may not be ruled out by the East Yorkshire club after the full-time whistle in North London.

However, the task at hand is rather simple. If they defeat Middlesbrough for a second time this season, they will be in the top-flight for the first time since 2017, and some rather good news has emerged out of the Bosnian's pre-match press conference.

Hull City granted EFL request involving David Akintola ahead of Middlesbrough play-off final

Although the initial report surfaced during a period where City were gearing up their preparations to take on Southampton, who they'd already achieved the Championship double over, it emerged that the club had submitted a request to the EFL to re-register Nigerian winger, David Akintola, to their official 25-man squad in place of Belgian midfielder, Eliot Matazo.

Matazo's time in HU3 thus far has been one of immense misfortune, and after spending 14 months without a league start due to an ACL injury, the 24-year-old suffered the same issue to his right knee in the 2-1 loss at Charlton Athletic last month.

Akintola, meanwhile, has been left helpless in terms of impacting City's fortunes on the pitch since January, when he was de-registered to make way for the club's winter recruits, before seeing the same request for his re-registration declined in March after an initial injury to Bristol City loanee, Yu Hirakawa.

However, the request this time has been granted for the 30-year-old to be a part of the squad against Boro. It is claimed to be recognition for his dedication to Hull's promotion cause in a period where he couldn't add to his 21 appearances and one goal, which came against Sheffield United on October 4th.

David Akintola has emerged as a cult figure amongst Hull City supporters despite reduced minutes

Despite a reduced impact across his first season as a Tigers player, Akintola's personality has made him a favourite amongst supporters on social media.

As part of the club's end-of-season awards process, the attacker was named as Community Award winner, further emphasising his commitment to engaging with those who stand on the terraces each and every week.

It remains to be seen if Akintola will play any part on the pitch at the national stadium, though, even if his addition to the squad somewhat compensates for the fact that versatile eight-goal forward, Kyle Joseph, will be absent after suffering a serious ankle issue in the second leg of the semi-finals against Millwall, resulting in a potential 10-week recovery period.