CHRIS LAKEY Peter Grant says experienced Hull City forward Dean Windass is up there with the best "veterans" in the Championship.

CHRIS LAKEY

Peter Grant says experienced Hull City forward Dean Windass is up there with the best "veterans" in the Championship.

The City boss has worked with Teddy Sheringham, the daddy of them all at the age of 41, at West Ham and persuaded Dion Dublin to stay on at Carrow Road for another season, which will take him past his 39th birthday next April.

Windass is three weeks older than Dublin - and Grant believes he ranks as one of the best golden oldies around.

"He has been terrific," Grant said. "Great enthusiasm for the game, great determination to be involved at this level, at this stage of his career.

"It shows with how many people have always wanted him, even late on his career - because he has always scored goals. Technically he is good, maybe not as quick, but as I always say, the brain is a lot quicker.

"Some guys are experienced and just know where things are going to be and Dean is one of them."

Windass is expected to line up alongside another veteran, former England man Nick Barmby, a mere 33 years old.

"Nicky Barmby is very similar - a top quality player with great intelligence," added Grant, whose side were 2-1 winners at the KC Stadium last season.

Hull boss Phil Brown served his managerial apprenticeship under the likes of Colin Todd and Sam Allardyce at Bolton, and Grant believes it shows in the make-up and style of his side - Allardyce was certainly never afraid to extract the final pieces of magic from some well-travelled legs, signing the likes of Ivan Campo and Les Ferdinand.

"They obviously wanted to spend a few bob trying to improve it on last year and you can see similarities with Bolton in many respects," said Grant. "The way they want to play, they make it tough for you - they are hard, they know their jobs, they are organised and we know it is always a tough place to go.

"They proved that last year, but I thought we did well there last year and played well.

"But we know it will be a tough call going there because they have high expectations. They have got money put in to them and they are trying to spend that - whether they can attract players is a different matter, but they are trying to spend it. If you go there and get three points it will be a fantastic three points and that is what we are aiming to do."