Hull City boss Steve Bruce admits interest in Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe.

City's 1-0 defeat to West Brom plunged the Tigers into the relegation zone and Bruce's injury problems increased with strikers Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez being ruled out with knee and groin problems respectively.

Bruce said: "I, probably like (West Brom boss) Tony Pulis and (Leicester manager) Nigel Pearson and all the people, would like a Jermain Defoe.

"The numbers might cause a problem but then again I suppose that would be the same for most of the teams in the bottom half because he's very expensive. It might be just beyond us.

"The one thing you don't want to do is gamble. We've seen all sorts of clubs get into a financial mess by pushing the boat out.

"But if there's someone who can make a difference I'll be knocking the door down like I always have done. We've got to get an individual in who can make a difference.

"It's always difficult talking about someone else's player.

"They (Toronto) paid a lot of money for him and by all accounts they don't really want to let him go. We'll have to see what develops."