Gareth Ellis for me.
He is the best and most consistent player I have seen so far in my life at Hull. His defence is just brutal. More often that not anybody who he has tackled gets up slowly to play the ball because he hits them that hard.
A similar situation to when Adrian Peterson won the MVP award after a ACL and MCL injury. I personally thought Ellis' career was over when he went down against Rovers. To come back at all, nevermind how good he has been this year, shows what the guy is made of.
I'd also have on the shortlist Gidley and Houghton.
Bateman for me was looking a shoe-in to at least make the short list but I reckon that chance has been bombed now.