Hull City boss Phil Brown insists he has 'no regrets whatsoever' over his signing of Jimmy Bullard last month.
Brown's £5 million club record buy has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury after playing just 37 minutes for the club.
The midfielder travelled to the US for what the club hoped would be minor knee surgery this week but the injury has proved far worse than first feared.
Bullard has been told he needs a reconstruction and will be sidelined for at least six months.
The 30-year-old has a history of knee problems and the club have admitted his medical revealed a meniscus tear, but Hull insist the new injury is not related.
Brown said: 'We made a big decision - more to a point the chairman and board of directors made a big decision - to bring Jimmy to the club.
"But I said to the chairman before the operation, 'When Jimmy wakes up, he is a Hull City player'.
'That is a bonus for me. We have got him for four-and-a-half years, albeit with the start of that career on a treatment table, unfortunately for us.
'For me it wasn't a gamble, it wasn't a risk, to the extent people are talking about. For me it was an investment in an international player.
'There are no regrets whatsoever about signing Jimmy Bullard.
'The other night was like when my daughter was being born and I was in the waiting room. You are waiting for good news and obviously the good news didn't come through this time.
'But that is life. I am a big boy so I am going to get on with it.'
Brown believes more will be made of the matter because of the high fee paid for Bullard and because of his past knee problems.
Bullard, then at Fulham, missed 16 months of football after his last major knee operation in September 2006.
However, he returned to play a key role in the Cottagers' escape from relegation last term and Brown is convinced he will make a full recovery again.
He said: 'It is disappointing, very unfortunate, very unlucky. It is obviously highlighted by the fact we invested a lot of money in Jimmy.
'I spoke to the lad last night, he's distraught but very determined and very upbeat about his comeback.
'We wish him well and a speedy recovery. He is quite determined to be back in England, back in the changing room and doing whatever he can for the Hull City cause.
'It would be nice to have him on the field, of course it would, but that will give someone else an opportunity.
'OK, it was a £5 million record signing but it is an opportunity for someone else to step into his boots.'
Another Hull player to have undergone knee surgery this week, although far less seriously, is forward Craig Fagan.
The 26-year-old, who has already missed three months of the current campaign with a broken leg, had a minor procedure to repair his meniscus.
He is expected to return to training next week but will definitely miss Monday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham and the FA Cup fifth-round replay against Sheffield United on Thursday.
Brown said: ‘Fortunately for us it was not that major and hopefully Craig will be back on the training ground on Monday or Tuesday next week.’
Striker Daniel Cousin is available again after recovering from his own minor knee operation while captain Ian Ashbee has overcome a calf problem.
