Hull City boss Steve Bruce has defended Maynor Figueroa over his X-rated challenge on Stoke City midfielder Stephen Ireland.

Ireland has been ruled out for several weeks with Potters boss Mark Hughes saying the challenge could have ended the midfielder's career.

But Bruce says: : "Let me tell you, Stephen Ireland committed the worst challenge on the pitch on David Meyler. He shouldn't have been on the pitch if the referee had done his job. It was an awful challenge.

"Everybody is wearing the boots called blades and the challenge on Ireland he's kicked the ball and followed through and unfortunately has caught his leg.

"At the time nobody went to the referee, he didn't award a free-kick - it wasn't a free-kick but one of those horrible ones where he's followed through and caught the boy on the calf rather than planted the boot on him."