Anthony Gardner won’t play for Hull City Football Club again this season.

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender has suffered four fractured vertebrae in the base of his spine, and Phil Brown is resigned to losing him for the rest of the campaign.

"Unfortunately, the X-ray has found that there are four fractured vertebrae in the base of Anthony's spine,” the Tigers manager told the club’s official website.

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