In spite of all the optimism felt by Steve Bruce when he signed Hatem Ben Arfa on loan from Newcastle United, the deal has gone sour, with the Hull City manager confirming that he does not know where the player is and that there seems no way back for him at the club.

“Sometimes transfers work out and sometimes they don’t,” Bruce said. “And it’s fair to say that with Ben Arfa I can’t see there being a future.

“Unfortunately he wants to do his things his way, which is fair enough. So unless he changes, then I treat him like every other player.

“But there has been no fallout — he has been omitted from the squad because when you are up against it,