Brown relishing the spotlight

Hull boss Phil Brown is excited by the prospect of kicking off the Premier League season in front of an audience of millions - even though he expects his side to be on the back foot for most of the game.

Brown's side face Chelsea in the first game of the 2009/10 season in Saturday's early kick-off and, with the Blues expected to challenge hard for the title under new boss Carlo Ancelotti, it is a match which will draw plenty of attention.

And having survived their first top-flight season by the narrowest of margins, Brown is happy to be in the spotlight once again.

"Since we came back on July 1, everyone's mindset has been on Chelsea and Stamford Bridge," he said.

"It's been brought forward for TV so now it's even bigger and of course it's Carlo Ancelotti's first game so it's very exciting.

"It's the best stage in the world and we're on it again tomorrow morning. Who knows, we might even be top of the league before everyone else kicks off."

If that is to be the case, Brown accepts his side will have to soak up plenty of pressure in a game where they are expected to be on the back foot from kick-off.

"Certain managers are hell-bent on a certain system but we were quite flexible last year and I need that mentality again," he added.

"You're playing Chelsea one week and Bolton the next and, with no disrespect to either, there will be a difference in your tactics.

"At Chelsea we will spend long periods without the ball and I need players who understand that. First and foremost we'll need players who work hard to win the ball back for the team and then keep it."

Brown, who has added Stephen Hunt, Seyi Olofinjana, Jozy Altidore and Kamel Ghilas to his squad in the close season, also revealed he does not intend to rely on the new additions to spur his side on this year.

Instead, the former Derby chief believes it is his job to keep the Tigers' resolve strong.

Brown said: "I was at a Premier League managers' meeting last week and it's nice to look around and see the top guys, see the whites of their eyes and how hungry they are.

"If you're not as hungry as they are, then forget about it. You can bring all the good players in but you have to retain that hunger to compete at the highest level and stay in the Premier League."

Hunt, who completed his switch from Reading on Thursday, is ready for a debut but is anticipating hostility from the Blues fans, who remember him for his part in Petr Cech's skull fracture in 2006.

"That's history," said Hunt.

"I've been there twice since it happened and I'll probably be expecting (a hostile reception) but I don't mind.

"The important thing is to go and get something from the game. There's no point in going and giving a good account of ourselves and losing, it's about picking up points."