Source: SKY_Sports
Gardner out for the season
Hull City defender Anthony Gardner will miss the rest of the season after X-rays revealed four fractured vertebrae in the base of his spine.[LNB] Gardner has endured a frustrating first season with The Tigers as injuries have restricted him to just eight appearances for Phil Brown's men.[LNB]The centre-back missed five months of action with worrying thigh problems before sustaining his latest setback in the FA Cup defeat by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.[LNB]KC Stadium boss Brown has backed the former Tottenham player to recover fully from the latest blow and be back in action in time for pre-season training.[LNB]Big blowHe 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.[LNB]"That manifests itself in that he will be out for the rest of the season.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"People have questioned whether he can physically handle it at this level. We certainly think he can.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"It's an unusual injury for a footballer. With rest and recuperation, he'll be back for pre-season training."[LNB]
