Source: Telegraph
Jimmy Bullard nears Hull City comeback
The 31-year-old has been sidelined for almost three months with a knee problem but is aiming to bolster his chances of moving into contention for a return to action when Hull City face Everton a week on Saturday. [LNB]Bullard is in line to face Wigan's second string at non-league North Ferriby's Church Road ground this evening and will have breathed a sigh of relief when the pitch passed a precautionary inspection this morning. [LNB]Eduardo to turn out for Arsenal reservesManchester Uniteds flops boost Cristiano Ronaldos egoHull manager Phil Brown is also expected to give Bullard a run-out in a friendly in Ireland against Galway United later this week and is also toying with the idea of staging a private match as well to speed up Bullard's recovery. [LNB]"Jimmy has been penciled in to play (for the reserves) and hopefully he will play a decent chunk of the game," Brown said. [LNB]"But we've got the Galway game on Friday and there's also the chance to play a behind-closed-doors game next week. [LNB]"That should give Jimmy time to get some minutes under his belt before the Everton game." [LNB]Bullard became the club's record signing when he joined Hull from Fulham for £5 million in January last year, but his time in Yorkshire has been blighted by knee trouble and he has only played six games since his move. [LNB]That Brown is so keen for Bullard to return to the fray is understandable, because he kick-started the club's season before his latest injury as Hull took five points from three games in November, before he was crocked at Aston Villa in early December. [LNB]Meanwhile, Hull centre-half Anthony Gardner, 28, is braced for a two-month spell on the sidelines with an ankle problem sustained in last weekend's defeat at West Ham. He is due to undergo scans when he meets Hull's medical experts today.[LNB]
