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London - Hull City manager Steve Bruce says French winger Hatem Ben Arfa has played his last game for the Premier League club after a troubled loan spell at the KC Stadium.
Ben Arfa has played just nine times for Hull since his temporary move from Newcastle United and reports in France last weekend indicated that he had returned to Paris and was training on his own.
And on Thursday Bruce admitted that the relationship between player and club had almost certainly run its course.
Bruce denied media reports of a heated row with Ben Arfa after hauling off him just 35 minutes into a recent 3-0 defeat at Manchester United, but he is reported to be upset by the midfielder's lack of work ethic in training and in matches.
"If he decides to stay in France that's up to him, there's only 10 days until the (January transfer) window opens and I think it's fair to say he's probably played his last game for Hull," Bruce said.
"He didn't deserve to be in the team on merit. It's my job to pick a team which I think will win a game on the Saturday. All this reported bust-up and the rest of it...I think you (journalists) want to make that story.
"What I've said to Ben Arfa is unfortunately I wasn't going to accept a performance like I saw from him against Manchester United. It's up to him to force himself back into the squad, that's the way it is."
With Bruce washing his hands of Ben Arfa, the 27-year-old now appears set for a January transfer after Newcastle manager Alan Pardew also declared he did not want to take Ben Arfa back at the end of his loan spell at Hull.
"Sometimes transfers don't work, especially with a loan deal. Sometimes they can be the best thing for the player and the club. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out," Bruce added.
"I wish him the best of luck. I hope he goes on to have the career his talent deserves, that's all I've got to say on the matter."
