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Hatem Ben Arfa has been kicked out of Hull City – after Steve Bruce proved he had done less work than Tigers’ keeper Allan McGregor, report Alan Oliver and Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.

The Newcastle star, who is on loan with the east Yorkshire club, is currently in Paris with huge question marks over his future after a massive bust-up with the genial Geordie.

Bruce hauled Ben Arfa off the Old Trafford pitch two weeks ago 10 minutes before half-time – and that sparked the row that has all but ended the career at the KC Stadium of a man once labelled ‘a genius’ by his former boss Gerard Houllier.

Problems arose after the defeat against Manchester United when Bruce asked the club’s analysts to drag up statistics on the player’s work-rate – and was astonished to find that his keeper McGregor had covered more ground.

Ben Arfa – who agreed the temporary move from Newcastle just before the transfer window closed – was then asked to explain himself by his irate boss.

The Frenchman replied by saying that he ‘was a No.10’.

In pictures - Chelsea 2-0 Hull City:

Bruce then hit the roof, saying: "Aren’t players who wear the No.10 supposed to run around then?"

The player responded by laughing at the Geordie, who was close to blowing a gasket.

Since then the Tigers have played three games – and the 27-year-old has not featured in any of them.

All of which leaves the playmaker, who was the subject of an article in French paper L’Equipe entitled ‘Ben Arfa-Hull, the divorce,’ in limbo.

Hull do have a break clause in the contract in the New Year – but Newcastle are unwilling to take him back for fear of a players’ revolt.

Ben Arfa fell out with Toon skipper Fabricio Coloccini – and the player’s representatives have told Newcastle he would not play for the club again while Alan Pardew was in charge.

The former France star’s troubles began at St James’ Park when Yohan Cabaye left Tyneside for Paris Saint-Germain in January. Cabaye was a powerful figure in the Toon dressing room and made sure the rest of the French players stayed in line.

But once Cabaye went it has been downhill all the way for Ben Arfa and the only way for him now is out of the KC Stadium – and out of St James’ Park too.

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