Brown keeps faith in King despite assault inquiry

The Hull City manager Phil Brown is happy to keep faith with Marlon King for today's trip to Liverpool, despite the striker's problems off the field.

King was arrested and bailed by police this week after being accused of assaulting a woman in a London bar. The 28-year-old forward, on a season-long loan from Wigan, scored goals in the last two games against Stoke and Middlesbrough taking his tally for the season to five.

Brown said: "He has had a problem last weekend which is under police inquiry and it would be wrong of us to talk about it. But where Marlon is concerned, he has trained all week and has come in, in good spirits. As long as that continues he will continue to play the football that he is playing."

Brown accepts that the club's increasing profile is bound to bring more media scrutiny. The Tigers are sixth in the table ahead of the trip to Anfield. "It is a million miles an hour and a great platform to play on, and that brings its problems," Brown said. "But where the players are concerned, their feet are still on the ground and we are going to go to Liverpool with that kind of mentality and attitude to hopefully get something from the game."

King's future remains uncertain with Brown admitting he is unlikely to make the player's signing permanent in January. King was told he did not feature in Wigan coach Steve Bruce's plans last summer but his form this term could prompt a rethink, particularly with Emile Heskey soon out of contract at the JJB Stadium.