Shaun Maloney is expected to join Hull in the next 48 hours after Steve Bruce saw his side move joint top of the Championship.

The 32-year-old Scotland midfielder's move from MLS side Chicago Fire is nearing completion, and boss Bruce said: 'Shaun is close to joining. He's got that bit of quality on the ball, he's played at the highest level and he will give us that little bit of something extra.'

Sone Aluko's late strike made it back-to-back home wins for the Tigers, who broke the deadlock thanks to Ahmed Elmohamady's 34th-minute header.

Chicago Fire midfielder Shaun Maloney (left) is expected to join Hull in the next 48 hours

Hull boss Steve Bruce believes Maloney's (right) arrival will provide his squad with some added quality

Bruce was speaking on Wednesday night after his side's Championship 2-1 victory against Fulham

Sone Aluku proved Hull's hero after netting a late second-half winner against Fulham on Wednesday

Aluko (left) scored the decisive goal of the game with a left-footed volley to give the hosts all three points

Fulham levelled through former Hull midfielder Tom Cairney's long-range effort with 20 minutes left. But they failed to hold on as Aluko scrambled home an 86th minute winner to pull City level with leaders Ipswich.

The Cottagers face an anxious wait on keeper Marcus Bettinelli and striker Matt Smith after both were both taken off following a first-half collision.

Boss Kit Symons said: 'Marcus and Matt have got knee ligament injuries. Marcus is looking more serious at the minute, it looks quite nasty but until we get the scans we won't know for sure the full extent.'

Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettenelli faces a long spell out on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments

As well as the Fulham stopper, striker Matt Smith suffered the same injury during their 2-1 defeat by Hull

The incident occurred following a collision with Bettenelli, Smith (centre right) and Hull's Abel Hernandez (right)