Egypt winger Ahmed Elmohamady could prematurely end his loan spell at Hull City and return to English Premier League side Sunderland before the end of January, the Black Cats' coach Martin O'Neill said on Saturday.

Elmohamady has put in a string of fine displays in the Championship since joining Hull from Sunderland on a season-long loan last summer.

Sunderland's coach O’Neill, who is looking to sign a new midfielder in the winter transfer window, hints he could use a clause that allows him to recall the 25-year old Egyptian player this month.

 “The January window is the only chance you get to genuinely strengthen your squad during the season and we have to make the most of it," O’Neill told the Sunderland Echo on Saturday.

“I’ve been speaking to (Hull coach) Steve Bruce about David Meyler in recent days and I’ve also talked to him about Ahmed Elmohamady’s situation.

“I’m just going to have to see how that develops.

“And it might be that if we have been unable to add the players I was hoping to add in this window, then we might have to recall Elmohamady," he added.

Elmohamady will be out of Saturday's FA Cup game with Orient due to injury.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)Ahmed Abd El Rasoul,