Tigers ready for Myhill calls

Hull City manager Phil Brown is getting ready to fight for in-form goalkeeper Boaz Myhill when the transfer window opens.

The Wales international has made an admirable start to his Premier League career with two clean sheets among a series of impressive performances, even adding an international shut-out to that against Denmark earlier this week.

And Brown is now preparing for the phone to ring off the hook come January.

"I think a number of top clubs are looking at Bo Myhill," Brown said.

"But he is a Hull City player. When he signed his last contract for three years that made him a Hull City player for those three years. That's it."

And it does not matter how good the offer is. All offers will be turned down, as Brown added: "Absolutely they will. And it won't just be Bo Myhill they'll be phoning about. But I'm ready."

Elsewhere on the pitch, there could be some different faces lining up at Portsmouth following the midweek internationals - but they won't be new faces.

Standing by

Brown has seasoned professionals Dean Windass, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Bernard Mendy and Nicky Barmby all on standby for surprise starts.

"Those four have been fantastic with their attitude," he said. "They are great pros and they have done everything they possibly can at the highest level and they continue to do so.

"We're taking a 22-man squad to Portsmouth and four will be disappointed.

"But the reason I've put a big squad together is to have competition for places. I wanted two or three for each position and let the best man win."

Discipline

Meanwhile, Brown has predicted that managers need to take more responsibility for their behaviour in the wake of tighter disciplinary expectations.

He was fined £1,000 by the FA disciplinary board this week for kicking a water bottle on the touchline during the match against Wigan back in August.

"I think it's because of the increased demands on standards that have been set," he added.

"They are at the highest level now and we have to come up to scratch. If you get caught doing whatever you've been doing and get a disrepute charge, that's your own fault. We cannot say it's not."