By Chris Burton Last updated: 15th August 2008
King: Upbeat ahead of new season
Marlon King is hoping to make a flying start to his career at Premier League new-boys Hull.
The striker has joined the Tigers on a season-long loan from Wigan and is desperate to prove a point to those at the JJB Stadium who have deemed him surplus to requirements.
The former Watford forward joined the Latics in a £5million deal in January, but just one goal in 15 appearances failed to convince Steve Bruce that he had invested wisely.
As a result, King could now be set to make his Hull debut against Fulham this Saturday, eager to silence the doubters who have questioned his ability to perform at the highest level.
"My goal was to come in in pre-season, get my head down and give the manager a headache at Wigan," he said.
"But when you are told your first-team opportunities are limited it kind of takes the wind out of you.
"Luckily the gaffer here said that he'd like me to try to help Hull.
"I never wanted to leave Wigan - and I still haven't - but I'm glad it's been resolved and I'm looking forward to tomorrow and playing my part."
Should he feature against the Cottagers at the weekend, King will come face-to-face with a side he looked set to join in January, before a failed medical eventually saw him head to Wigan instead of London.
"People talk about failing a medical but that's nonsense. I'd played another 50 or 60 games since my injury," he said.
"But that's football, it's business. There are no hard feelings against Fulham. Watford at the time did not want to renegotiate the deal.
"Whether it be Arsenal, Man United, Fulham - whoever it is, I'm looking forward to being part of history, Hull's first game in the Premier League.
"There is no better opportunity to get three points than at a full KC against Fulham."
Hull are widely tipped to make an immediate return to the Championship, but King insists that everyone connected with the club believes they are capable of maintaining their Premier League status.
"It's the first season in the Premier League," he added.
"The whole city is buzzing.
"Everybody here is upbeat and enthusiastic about trying to get the first points on the board on Saturday."

Latest Sky Sports News Report
Bordeaux v Olympiakos - Derbyshire
Portsmouth receive points deduction
Dowie appointed Tigers boss
Pearson - Dowie to make 'big impact'
Barton on the road to recovery
Drogba bemoans red card
Champions League round up - 16th March
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Burnley |
| 17:30 | Arsenal vs West Ham |
| Sunday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man Utd vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Man City |
| 16:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 23rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | West Ham vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 24th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Sunderland |
| 19:45 | Man City vs Everton |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Chelsea |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Stoke |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 15th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 4 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 3 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Birmingham 2 - 2 Everton | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Chelsea 4 - 1 West Ham | |
| Burnley 1 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 10th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 9th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Monday 8th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 6th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 1 Burnley | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Bolton | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Everton | |
Ed Chamberlin tips up a vintage Gold Cup and the next part of a compelling Premier League title race.
Chris Burton catches up with Will Haining, who has settled in well at Morecambe after a hectic summer.
Sky Sports Scout is where we scour the globe looking for the best talent, next up is Raheem Sterling.
Iain Dowie says he is relishing the challenge of keeping Hull City in the Premier League after replacing Phil Brown as manager.
Bordeaux edged into the last eight of the Champions League at the expense of Olympiakos, following a 2-1 win.
Yoann Gourcuff, Wendel and Marouane Chamakh are pleased to have helped prolong Bordeaux's European adventure.
Barcelona eased into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after a 4-0 demolition of Stuttgart at Camp Nou.
Matt Derbyshire felt his night, and Olympiakos', was ruined by an overly-fussy referee against Bordeaux.