Hull City's crocked midfielder Jimmy Bullard could be playing again for the Tigers by September.

Bullard, who has played just 37 minutes of football for the Tigers since joining them on a three-and-a-half year deal worth £40,000 a week in January, enthused: "I am in countdown mode already.

"I was out for16 months with a similar injury at Fulham, and that was just too long. I could not do that again."

Bullard's has already thrown away his crutches.

"That has been the first really big step for me," he said.