Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to make swift return after head injury

Hull City's battle to avoid relegation received a welcome boost when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink being told that he could return to full training next week after a CT scan showed he suffered no damage during a clash of heads with Aston Villa's Richard Dunne on Tuesday night. Iain Dowie, the Hull manager, had feared Vennegoor of Hesselink would not play again this season after the Dutchman was knocked unconscious during the 2-0 defeat to Villa that left the club effectively four points adrift of safety. However, Vennegoor of Hesselink was today released after spending the night in Hull Royal Infirmary and, although Saturday's crucial home match against Sunderland will come too soon for him, he will be available for the trip to Wigan Athletic on Monday week. Meanwhile Paul Duffen, the former Hull chairman, has responded to fierce criticism of his two-year reign at the KC Stadium from his successor Adam Pearson. Pearson, who replaced Duffen in October to return to the post he held between 2001 and 2007, accused the outgoing Hull chairman of making decisions that "were extremely short-sighted and lacking in business sense and specific football knowledge. He seems, albeit with the advantage of hindsight, to have had no understanding of the industry, Hull City AFC or the city of Hull itself." Pearson also accused Duffen of a "lack of moral responsibility" and described the money spent on agents – close to £6m in a two-year spell – as "morally abhorrent". Duffen, however, has defended his time at the club, maintaining that Hull have "one of the lowest squad wage bills in the Premier League and amongst the lowest levels of debt". He added in a statement: "The successes were not achieved through financial muscle but through partnerships, ambition, team spirit, collective positive attitude and a stubborn refusal to fail. I firmly believe that if those qualities remain at the club then Hull City have every chance of playing a third season in the Premier League and I wish them well."