The 26-year-old joined up with his new, short-term team-mates at training on Wednesday after the deal was finalised.

Ireland international Shay Given, the club's regular goalkeeper, was ruled out for the season after dislocating his shoulder in a 0-0 draw at Arsenal at the weekend.

The club's reserve keeper Stuart Taylor is recovering from knee surgery which left only 23-year-old Gunnar Nielsen, who stood in on Saturday as the first player from the Faroe Islands to appear in the Premier League.

City also have Joe Hart on loan to Birmingham City but said they had failed to reach an agreement to recall him after talks on Tuesday.

"I got the call on Tuesday from City and I was more than happy to come and help the club," Fulop told City's official website.

"It's fantastic to be here at such a time. It came out of the blue but I'm delighted to try to help City achieve their goal.

"I'm ready to play, if I'm selected. I came here to do a job and I'm confident that I can do that. I feel good, and we need a win to get that fourth-place spot, which is so important for the club.

Fulop is used to playing on loan - having had stints at Chesterfield, Coventry and Sunderland while on Tottenham Hotspur's books and then joining Leicester and Stoke from Sunderland.

The Hungarian is expected to play against Aston Villa at home on Saturday. City have three games remaining and are sixth in the league, a point behind fourth-placed Tottenham and Villa and one ahead of Liverpool.

Reuters