Hull City skipper Ian Ashbee believes they're now gaining respect from Premiership rivals.

Ashbee has so far made light work of the step up into the Premier League, holding his own against the likes of Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and West Ham's Scott Parker.

But it was an after-match brush with Tottenham's England international Jermaine Jenas that convinced Ashbee that he belongs in the top flight.

"To be fair to Jermaine Jenas, I asked for his shirt but I didn't take mine off thinking he wouldn't want it," Ashbee told the Hull Daily Mail.

"But he sent someone in asking for my shirt and that's a mark of respect from him and suggests there's a lot of respect for us now."