With further striking options needed for the Tigers' first ever assault on the top flight, manager Phil Brown beat the transfer deadline to sign Daniel Cousin from Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

Just days earlier, Cousin had scored for Rangers in their derby victory against Celtic, although he was later sent off in what proved to be his final game for the Scottish club.

Born in Gabon, Cousin moved to France at a young age with the rest of his family and his football career started in the lower leagues of French football, featuring spells with Martigues and Niort.

His career really took off after a move to Le Mans, where he scored 44 goals in 149 appearances. His form led to another move, this time to RC Lens and he netted 26 times in 101 games.

With a number of British clubs reportedly interested, Rangers eventually won the race to land his signature in 2007. He was an instant hit at Ibrox, scoring on his debut and then netting twice on his first start.

His form in Scotland attracted plenty of admirers and in January 2008, Fulham launched a bid to take him to Craven Cottage. Their bid of £3million activated a release clause in his contract, but just when it looked as though he would be heading South, FIFA cancelled the transfer because Cousin had already played competitive games for Lens and Rangers that season.

He remained at Ibrox and ended the season with a more than respectable goal ratio. However, his season turned sour when he was stupidly sent off in the UEFA Cup Semi-Final second leg win against Fiorentina.

Cousin's start to the 2008/09 season was enough to pursuade the Tigers to launch a bid and having signed, he made his debut in the 2-2 draw with Everton. He scored his first goal a week later, a famous winner against Arsenal and he also netted against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

A back injury disrupted his season, but he has recently returned to action for the closing weeks of the season.

On the international front, Cousin has a formidable scoring record having made his debut against South Africa in 2000.

DANIEL COUSIN'S FULL INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES FOR GABON WHILST WITH HULL CITY
Total up to 31 January 2010: 9 caps
11.10.2008 H v Libya in Libreville (World Cup Qualifier)
12.08.2009 N v Benin in Dieppe, France (Friendly)
05.09.2009 H v Cameroon in Libreville (World Cup Qualifier)
09.09.2009 A v Cameroon in Yaounde (World Cup Qualifier) - Sub [SCORED]
10.10.2009 H v Morocco in Libreville (World Cup Qualifier) - [SCORED]
14.11.2009 A v Togo in Lome (World Cup Qualifier)
13.01.2010 N v Cameroon in Lubango, Angola (Africa Cup of Nations Finals) - [SCORED]
17.01.2010 N v Tunisia in Lubango, Angola (Africa Cup of Nations Finals)
21.01.2010 N v Zambia in Benguela, Angola (Africa Cup of Nations Finals)