Hull of a challenge

"To be honest, I have been to better places than here," said Okocha, smiling. "But I'm not here because of the lifestyle, I am here to play football. That is my first target. To be honest, I can live anywhere."

Half an hour after his drive through the suburbs of East Yorkshire, one of the most naturally talented players ever to grace the Premier League was put through his final test; a behind-closed-doors friendly against Sheffield Wednesday at the club's training ground. It was a last check that, at 34, there is still life in the old legs.

Brown, the Hull manager, is convinced there is. "It's the beginning of a journey of discovery," he said, beaming. "I see the hunger in his eyes, it has not gone away. There is a sparkle. I saw it when he was on the pitch today."

When Okocha's contract was not renewed at Bolton in 2006, the Nigerian thought he had finished with England. The carrot of a final hefty payday in the Middle East was dangled. He took it.

"The life was good in Qatar but I did not enjoy the football," he added. "For me, 12 months was enough. The standard was low, but not that low. It was OK but the ambition was not there from the players.

"It was like playing for nothing. I didn't like that feeling. I had signed a two-year contract. I had another year left, but it was my option and I didn't want to take it.

"I thought I would go there and enjoy it, play for two or three years and that would be it. After two or three months I knew I wanted to come back. I did not want to finish my career like that."

He waa courted by other Championship sides when word was put around that Okocha wanted to return.

Brown, who spent four years at the Reebok Stadium as Sam Allardyce's assistant, was in pole position.

It was a timely boost for Brown, relieved that his new £1million striker Caleb Folan was released after a "comfortable" night in hospital following a head injury in Monday night's 2-1 defeat at Blackpool.

"There were numerous clubs interested in Jay-Jay and talking to him, but I was impressed with his commitment towards myself and the football club," said Brown.

"I remember the first time I met him, four or five years ago, and I was impressed. We talked about shared visions and ambitions back then. We achieved them together. He knows I have a fresh challenge here at Hull and he would like to share the challenge again.

"Every signing is a punt that you hope will go right. You take these chances in life and these risks. Jay-Jay is 34 and by his own admission he went to Qatar to retire but, having been bored on his sabbatical, he decided to reignite his career in England. We have to get used to the fact he can handle the ball in any area. You have to trust his ability. The name is not important. I am not signing the name, I am signing the player's ability. Hopefully, he has a point to prove.

"What he brought to a former club of mine was second to none, it was immeasurable, it was phenomenal. He carries a lot of respect. Jay-Jay is a big name but his ability is the important thing. Newcastle signed Kevin Keegan when they were in the Second Division and it was his ability that was important.

"I shouldn't see any problem in him settling here. I took him around the surrounding area, the suburbs of Hull are very nice, you have to sell the area."

Okocha believes Hull have every chance of reaching the elite. He said: "We can reach the Premier League. We have everything in place to be a Premier side. Hopefully it will be a matter of when.

"I had options to go to other English clubs. The manager did not have to sell the area — what convinced me was that he is not just here to settle in the Championship. My relationship with Phil was a major factor in me coming here. I am looking at the big picture.

"I am not coming on transit for 10 months. I am thinking of retiring here. I am thinking beyond one year and I want to be part of a team pushing for promotion. I think this club can be bigger than Bolton."