Source: Eurosport
Gardner Backs Out
Hull defender Anthony Gardner has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a back problem. The central defender was injured in last week's FA Cup defeat at Arsenal and x-rays have revealed he has fractured four vertebrae at the base of his spine.
"That manifests itself in that he will be out for the rest of the season," boss Phil Brown told the club's website.
"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."
