MARC Pugh has completed a loan move to Hull City after boss Eddie Howe admitted he had to "respect his desire to play".

The 31-year-old, who was snapped up by Howe for a bargain £100,000 from Hereford in 2010, will spend the rest of the season with the Championship outfit.

Pugh was a mainstay in Cherries' League One promotion and Championship title-winning sides but his opportunities became limited at the Dorset club.

The tricky winger has been restricted to just three cup appearances this season while his last Premier League action came in May last year.

Speaking before Pugh's deal to join Hull, Howe told the Daily Echo: “I don’t have to tell you what I think of Marc, I have said it many times.

“My admiration for him is so high with the career he has had and how he has conducted himself through every phase of his journey with us – whether he has been in or out of the team."

Asked how hard is it to have a conversation over a player’s future, Howe said: “Some conversations are very difficult just because of your attachment to the player. Your opinion of them goes far beyond just football.

“With Marc, my opinion of him goes far beyond the football player.

“It’s the person, it’s everything he stands for and that makes it much more than just a conversation about football and a player’s career.

“Ultimately you have to respect his desire to play."

Pugh has made 274 league appearances for Cherries - the joint 13th most in the club's history alongside team-mate Steve Cook.

The Lancashire-born star scored his 56th goal since he made the switch to the south coast in the 3-1 FA Cup defeat against Brighton earlier this month.