Hull City crock Jimmy Bullard is confident he will be playing for the Tigers in the Premiership next season.

The former Fulham midfielder told the Hull Daily Mail: "To be out for 16 months was just an absolute killer, I don't think I could go through that again. It killed me.

"This one for me is nothing compared to that one. I'm on countdown already."

There is a buoyancy to his character that suggests the disappointment of his injury is already fading.

"It's been embarrassing" he said with a wry smile. "A bloody nightmare in fact, but what's done is done and I can only look forward now.

"The more I linger on it, the more frustrated I get so I have to look to the future."

Insisting he will return to Hull City colours as a Premier League player, Bullard fires a final shot of optimism.

"There's not one doubt in my mind that we'll stay up. I'm sure we're going to be fine if we stay confident, play our game and get the points we need."