Hull City manager Phil Brown is delighted with the way midfielder Jimmy Bullard has started since his return from a long-term knee injury.

The 31-year-old spent nearly nine months on the sidelines before returning to action last month and the former Fulham and Wigan Athletic schemer has quickly made his mark in the Tigers' engine room.

Brown commented:"You can't keep a good man down, you can't knock a guy like Jimmy.

"He has got team-mates around him who are trusting him with the ball.

"That trust has brought a belief and that has brought confidence. Consequently we have played some very good football.

Meanwhile, City skipper Ian Ashbee remains confident that he will recover from his latest round of knee surgery.

He told The News of the World:"I've come back from the best surgeon in the world. He said it will be fine and he's not one for false promises.

"I will be back running in January or February and I will play again this season. I'm not angry about people saying I won't come back – but they are wrong."

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