Bullard nearing Hull return

Hull manager Phil Brown may call on midfielder Jimmy Bullard for only the sixth time since his £5m move from Fulham last January in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash at West Ham.

The 31-year-old has returned to training after his latest knee injury, which saw him leave the field in tears at Aston Villa in December, and could be on the bench.

Brown will definitely be without another midfielder in Geovanni, who is still out with a knee problem, but George Boateng is available after his red card against Blackburn was rescinded.

Provisional squad: Myhill, Gardner, McShane, Dawson, Mouyokolo, Boateng, Mendy, Hunt, Cairney, Altidore, Olofinjana, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Garcia, Zaki, Zayatte, Fagan, Barmby, Duke, Kilbane, Bullard.