Bullard missed training on Thursday, just days after making his long-awaited return for the Tigers as a second-half substitute at Fulham on Monday.

Brown insists there was nothing sinister about Bullard sitting out the session as he had also played for the reserves since the Craven Cottage match and needed the extra rest.

The Tigers manager believes the appearance Bullard made for the second string in midweek may have toughened him up sufficiently for a first-team start after months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Asked about the 30-year-old missing training, Brown said: "Jimmy's was purely precautionary.

"He has travelled all the way back from Fulham having probably done 10 to 15 minutes more than we wanted.

"He requested to play against Wigan and there was a combative midfielder playing for them and he got into a tackle.

"He got what he needs to tell you the truth, a bit of physical contact to make sure the knee is 100 per cent ready in his own head, so it is just an extra day's rest, that's all."

Brown understands why it might be considered a bit of a risk to start with Bullard in Saturday's KC Stadium encounter with fellow strugglers Portsmouth.

But he maintains that Bullard is just too good to leave out of the line-up if he is entirely happy with his fitness.

"Of course there is reservation, it is seven or eight months after major surgery but the bottom line is it's about Jimmy and his mental state," Brown explained.

"If he says to me that he is ready to play then to me it's a no brainer."

Defender Anthony Gardner has declared himself fit.

The injury-plagued 28-year-old, who made only eight appearances last season after his £2.5m move from Tottenham Hotspur, has not played since the Tigers' defeat of Bolton Wanderers on 22nd August.

After thigh and back problems last term, a knee injury has been the cause of his latest lay-off but he is now confident he is back to full fitness.

Gardner said: "I'm feeling good, ready to go.

"It's been two months since I last played a Premier League game so I'm ready to get involved in the match at the weekend.

"Throughout all the time I've been trying to get right I've been travelling to some of the games.

"It's hard when you know you can't be out there, supporting your team-mates and helping them try to get the results we know we can get.

"It's frustrating but that's the way football is and you just have to deal with it.

"But now I just want to be out there and help the lads."

Gardner was close to being handed a place on the bench for Monday's defeat at Fulham but Brown chose to exercise more caution.

His eventual return would give a lift to a Hull City side struggling in 18th place in the table and with just two league wins in the whole of 2009.

Brown said: "He's trained all week and fingers crossed he'll come through Friday unscathed and can play some part in the game on Saturday."