Kevin Kilbane is convinced Hull City can start looking on the brighter side of life again after the return to fitness of Jimmy Bullard.

Bullard is expected to put nine months of anguish behind him when Hull play Fulham, his former club, at Craven Cottage tonight after recovering from a career-saving knee operation in the United States.

He will be included in Phil Brown’s squad and and is likely to take his place on the bench. Kilbane believes having Bullard back will raise smiles on and off the field.

The Ireland midfield player said: “It’s a big bonus for us to have someone like Jimmy back involved. He’s a big, big character on and off the pitch, but first and foremost he’s a great player.

“I’ve seen some of the things he gets up to and I try to keep my head down away from him! But we’ve got his presence back and he’s a wonderful footballer. He’s got skill, composure and experience, and I’m sure that’s not something that will fade with the injury.

“You only have to look at him in training this week to see what a naturally fit player he is, but it’ll take games over the next month or so before he’s fully ready.”

Bullard may get a rough time from the home supporters at Craven Cottage but Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, urged fans to go easy on their former hero. “I would imagine that he will not get a bad reception but I don’t know how fans think in those areas,” Hodgson said.

“We live in a world where professional football involves players playing at a club and if something else comes along that they prefer then they will move on. Everyone accepts that and I think our fans in particular will not hold it against him that he left the club.”

Hodgson’s side face Roma on Thursday and Hull, who have not won away from home in the league this season, are hoping the Europa League match will prove a distraction. “It’s always going to be difficult for a team like Fulham in Europe,” Kilbane said. “The dream of qualifying for Europe is brilliant, but it was proven last year with a club the size of Aston Villa that they have to play weakened teams in Europe because the Premier League is the priority.

“Fulham, for all the great players that they have, they’re going to find it difficult challenging on two fronts. They’ve got Roma on Thursday and they could have one eye on that.

“For all that they might think that the Premier League is their bread and butter, you always have those big games around the corner to turn your head.”

Fulham (probable; 4-4-2) M Schwarzer — J Paintsil, A Hughes, B Hangeland, P Konchesky — C Dempsey, D Murphy, J Greening, Z Gera — R Zamora, A Johnson.

Hull City (probable; 4-4-1-1): B Myhill — P McShane, I Sonko, K Kilbane, A Dawson — K Zayatte, N Barmby, D Marney, S Hunt — Geovanni — J Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Referee: A Marriner.

Television: Live on ESPN from 7pm (kick-off 8pm).