Hull City manager Steve Bruce has hinted that he is monitoring Celtic's Georgios Samaras as he prepares to dip into the market for a striker in January.

The Greek international, who has often starred for the Bhoys in the Champions League, is out of contract at the end of the season, and Parkhead boss Neil Lennon has admitted that he may be sold in the New Year.

While ruling out a move for Valenciennes's Ivory Coast defender Benjamin Angoua, Bruce again admitted his desire to bring in forward reinforcements when the transfer window reopens, revealing that he is yet to make contact with Celtic over Samaras, but that he is among the players he is watching.

"I've no real aspiration to bring in a defender, I'm looking at the other end of the pitch - but so is half the world," Bruce told reporters. "You are only as good as your strikers, that's the way it is.

"Everyone is aware of the situation with [Samaras's] contract and I am sure all of us have looked but he is a good player. But I have not expressed any real interest."

Hull's strikers, Danny Graham, Yannick Sagbo, Aaron McLean and Nick Proschwitz have scored three Premier League goals between them this season.