Jimmy Bullard's latest injury setback will keep him out for just six to eight weeks - far less than had been initially feared after the Hull midfielder limped out of the weekend clash with Aston Villa.

Bullard was immediately in tears after falling awkwardly in a challenge with James Milner, fearing a relapse of the knee ligament injury from which he only returned in October after nine months on the sidelines.

But the good news as far as Tigers fans are concerned is that their influential midfielder has only sprained his knee on this occasion and hasn't damaged the crucial cruciate ligament, meaning he could be back in action as early as next month.

Bullard, 31, has been in excellent form since making his long-awaited return, scooping the Premier League Player of the Month award for November, while his boss Phil Brown explained the good news on the injury front.

"Jimmy is going to be out between six and eight weeks, a totally separate injury to anything he has had before," the Hull boss told Sky Sports News.

"It is a grade 2 sprain on his medial ligament, it is not connected with anterior cruciate ligament.

"I am hopeful that Jimmy will be back on the field of play before the transfer window closes - that is what I am looking at and hopefully what everyone else is looking at."