Steve Bruce "hugely disappointed" with Jake Livermore

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has admitted that dealing with Jake Livermore's failed drug test has been his hardest 24 hours in management.

It emerged on Friday afternoon that Livermore had tested positive for cocaine following Hull's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on April 25, and Bruce has revealed that it had been difficult for the club to avoid becoming distracted ahead of Saturday's match with Tottenham Hotspur, which they lost 2-0.

The 54-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "It has been unquestionably my hardest 24-36 hours in management. It is hard to put your head round things.

"As always you have to handle it and not let it affect people. We are hugely disappointed but we have to move on, dust ourselves down and prepare as well as we can in a tough week."

The Tigers must beat Manchester United on the final day of the season to have a chance of avoiding relegation to the Championship.