Bullard was a crowd favourite at the Cottage before he decided to leave and join newly promoted Hull City for more money. But the midfielder lasted just 37 minutes of his debut before being taken off with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Hodgson, said: "I would imagine that he will not get a bad reception but I don't know how fans think in those areas."
He added: "The game has changed enormously in that respect. In the past you wouldn't have imagined it but these days you see Barry getting booed every touch he makes when playing for Man City against Aston Villa, so who knows?
"I wouldn't like to think that will happen though and certainly I would take no satisfaction from our fans doing that so I rather hope that they will give him a better reception."