Hull City No2 Brian Horton insists manager Phil Brown was right to give Jimmy Bullard a full 90 minutes for their win over Stoke.

Horton admitted he and Brown would have liked the option of substituting the 31-year-old before the end of the game.

However, despite recent concerns over shin and knee injuries, he said circumstances ensured it was never considered.

"There was never any thought of him coming off," he said.

" He got tired, but we couldn't have taken him off with the way the game was balanced.

"He has had 90 minutes and that will do him good for the mental side of it.

"He is just great around the club. You need people like Jimmy in the changing rooms, whether you are winning or losing, that's why he got in the England squad."