The Tigers smashed their transfer record when they signed Jimmy Bullard from Fulham for £5million in January 2009.

A player of undoubted quality, Bullard was brought to the KC Stadium to provide creativity and flair as City looked to complete their mission of staying in the Barclays Premier League. Unfortunately, his season was ended after just 37 minutes of action in a black and amber shirt. Having come on as a substitute against West Ham United, he sustained damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and was ruled out of the final four months of the season.

One of the real characters of English football, Bullard's career began with non-league side Gravesend & Northfleet before he was picked up by the club he supported as a boy, West Ham, for £30,000 in 1999.

However, he failed to make a competitive appearance for the Hammers and was allowed to join Peterborough United on a free transfer at the end of the 2000/01 campaign.

It was at London Road that Bullard really began to attract attention. In just under two years with The Posh he netted 14 times in 77 games and proved to be their main creative force from midfield.

Unsurprisingly, his performances courted interest from higher-placed sides and it was Wigan Athletic who eventually won the race for his signature, laying out £275,000 in January 2003.

He proved to be the final piece in the Latics jigsaw as they stormed to the League One title four months later. The following season, Wigan just missed out on the play-offs but a year later, they were celebrating promotion to the Premier League, thanks in no small part to the assists of Bullard.

Bullard continued to impress in the top flight and specualtion mounted about a move away from the JJB Stadium. That came with a £2.5million switch to Fulham in time for the 06/07 season.

Sadly, his first season at Craven Cottage was ended by a serious injury which would keep him out of action for 16 months but two goals in four games gave Fulham fans a glimpse of what they could look forward to.

On his return, Bullard's form was good enough to prompt speculation of an England call-up. That duly arrived in August 2008 when Fabio Capello named him in his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia, although he didn't appear in either game.