Hull City midfielder Kevin Kilbane is grateful to Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce for saving his top-flight career.

Kilbane explained: "Steve Bruce was very good with me and gave me the opportunity to come here. He knew how important it was for me to be back playing.

"I hadn't played enough from a personal point of view this season and after speaking to Steve a few times, he was brilliant.

"There's no animosity between me and Wigan because first and fore most I enjoyed my time there."