Sonko happy to feel part of the team

IBRAHIMA SONKO has told Hull boss Iain Dowie he is ready to play a key role in the club’s Premier League relegation fight after revealing he was made to train with the youth team by former manager Phil Brown.

The defender had not featured for the Tigers’ first team since their loss to Fulham in October before he was called on by Dowie to partner Steven Mouyokolo in Saturday’s win over the Cottagers.

Sonko, who is on a season-long loan from Stoke, got his chance because of injuries to Andy Dawson, Anthony Gardner and Kamil Zayatte and Bernard Mendy’s illness, and he took it with both hands as Hull kept only their fifth clean sheet of the season.