Hull City's popular midfielder Jimmy Bullard underwent a scan on his injured left knee last night. Bullard, the Premier League's player of the month for November, landed awkwardly after a challenge in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa and limped out of the action. Club record signing Bullard, 31, left the field at Villa Park with tears in his eyes but the positive news yesterday was that there was no swelling around the joint. The results of the scan are expected to be announced today.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has held "positive talks" with Javier Mascherano about the midfielder's future at the club. The Argentine was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer but Benitez insists the player is happy and negotiations are under way about extending his deal, which runs for another two years. "We were talking with him and his agent a month ago about our idea and his idea," said Benitez.
"He's doing really well and has come back to his best. We were really pleased to talk to him to make progress. "We have plenty of time but we are happy with him and he is happier now, too. "He has two more years on his contract; we were talking before and we will sit down sooner rather than later and talk about the future. "The last conversations that we had were very positive." Benitez is also hoping to tie up a new contract for goalkeeper Pepe Reina over the coming months.
"It depends on the agent and what the player wants but Pepe is very happy here in Liverpool so I don't see a big problem," said Benitez. * PA Sport
