Gardner joined Hull from Spurs for �2.5m in August

Hull City defender Anthony Gardner will miss the remainder of the season with a back injury.

The 27-year-old was hurt in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Hull manager Phil Brown told the club website: "The X-ray has found there are four fractured vertebrae in the base of Anthony's spine.

"It's an unusual injury for a footballer. With rest and recuperation, he'll be back for pre-season training."

Gardner was out of action for three months earlier in the season with a thigh problem and has made just eight appearances for the Tigers since his £2.5m move from Tottenham.

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"Anthony has been very unlucky. It's been a stop-start season for him to say the least," added Brown.

"People have questioned whether he can physically handle it at this level. We certainly think he can.

"He had formed a reasonable partnership with Michael Turner in a short space of time."

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