No intention by Tigers to spend big after past mistakes

Nick Barmby’s Tigers travel to Burnley today handily placed in the play-off places after an impressive first half of the season that has yielded 39 points.

The last time Hull could feel as happy with themselves at the equivalent stage of a campaign was three years ago during the club’s first season among the elite.

Despite losing the final three games of 2008, Hull were eighth in the Premier League and feeling invincible as the new year began.

Such thinking led the then board to sanction not only the £5m purchase of Jimmy Bullard but also his £45,000-per-week wages on a four-and-a-half year contract. It is a decision the Tigers have been left to rue ever since and why, despite their promising position this time around, they will not be spending big in January.

Speaking ahead of today’s trip to Turf Moor, caretaker manager Barmby said: “If the right player comes along then we will go for him and hopefully get him.

“But this club in the past has tried to make big statements about big players and it has come back to bite us.

“It is great for the fans because the rumour mill comes around.

“I have heard the rumour mill about Michael Turner, about Billy Sharp and about Luciano Becchio at Leeds.

“That is football and you can’t stop that but I can say that we are not going to panic and we will take our time.”

Hull make the trip to Burnley looking to banish the memory of what was the low point of their season on the road in 2010-11 – a 4-0 hammering in September.

This time around, the Clarets are likely to be equally tough opponents after a run of half dozen games that has yielded five wins.

The first of those was against Hull at the KC Stadium, when Eddie Howe’s side produced a grandstand finish to win 3-2 despite being two goals down with only 12 minutes remaining on the clock.

Burnley manager Howe said: “We have played Hull very recently and they were excellent against us for 65 or 70 minutes.

“It was a difficult afternoon for us and then we had that comeback that really started this run.

“Hopefully, we can perform over 90 minutes this time and carry on the momentum.”

Robbie Brady could make his last appearance for Hull unless agreement can be reached with Manchester United over an extension to his loan stay at the KC Stadium.

The 19-year-old has impressed with the Tigers in his 18 appearances, so much so he has been linked with a possible switch to the Premier League on loan.

Barmby said: “We will keep talking to them (Manchester United). We have got a good relationship with them but the ball is in their court.”