Hull City defender Anthony Gardner will miss the rest of the season with four fractured vertebrae in the base of his spine. KC Stadium boss Brown told the club's official website: "Unfortunately, the X-ray has found that there are four fractured vertebrae in the base of Anthony's spine.

"That manifests itself in that he will be out for the rest of the season.

"It's a big blow. Anthony has been very unlucky and we sympathise with how unlucky he has been. It's been a stop-start season for him to say the least.

"People have questioned whether he can physically handle it at this level. We certainly think he can.

"We brought him in to do a job and he has Premier League experience. He had formed a reasonable partnership with Michael Turner in a short space of time.

"It's an unusual injury for a footballer. With rest and recuperation, he'll be back for pre-season training."