Jimmy Bullard has been rewarded for his sparkling form since returning from a long-term knee injury by being named the Premier League player of the month for November. The midfielder's return after nine months on the sidelines has been viewed as a key reason for Hull City's upturn in form over the past few weeks, which has seen Phil Brown's men string together a four-game unbeaten run to pull clear of the relegation zone.

The former Fulham and Wigan Athletic player, who receives the award for the first time, was instrumental in a crucial last-gasp reverse of Stoke City and in battling draws with West Ham United and Manchester City.

Bullard scored just twice in November - penalties against West Ham and Man City - but it was his shot which created the opening for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to hit the winner against Stoke, and his deflected free-kick which began the fightback from two goals down against the Hammers.

The 31-year-old also captured the imagination with his comic recreation of Brown's infamous Eastlands half-time team talk of last season, after hitting the leveller against Mark Hughes's side last weekend.

Hull were denied a clean sweep of the November awards as Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti edged out Brown for the manager's award. The Italian led the league leaders to three wins and three clean sheets in the month, despite facing title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal along the way.

The sequence has seen Chelsea extend their lead at the league's summit to five points. The award is Ancelotti's first and comes in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. He joins former Blues manager Claudio Ranieri as the only Italian recipients of the accolade.