 In December 1998 he returned to the Football League when he signed with Third Division club Hull City, who were then managed by Warren Joyce.He played twenty games of the 1998–99 season, and his performances at Boothferry Park earned him a £465,000 move to Premier League side Derby County in June 1999.He immediately went out on loan with Port Vale, but returned to Pride Park within three weeks having failed to make an appearance for Brian Horton's "Valiants".