Tuesday 23 December 2014 17:07, UK
Hull boss Steve Bruce has demanded an apology from Paul McShane after the out-of-favour defender posted a number of tweets reacting to his move to the development squad, but neither party has explained the reason for the demotion.
The Republic of Ireland international, who is a fan favourite and the club's longest-serving player, has featured just six times this season and has not been seen since the loss to Burnley on November 8.
Since then relations appear to have deteriorated significantly, with the 28-year-old sent to train with the development squad.
He (McShane) has been quite quick to reveal that he is in there and I hope he comes out and tells the reason why.
He has also taken to retweeting fan comments about his continued exile, an act which has not gone down well with his manager.
And while Bruce would not elaborate on the reasons for the stand-off he was clear that there was only one way to resolve it.
"I heard all this nonsense about what's on Twitter and the rest of it but it's quite straightforward: Paul knows exactly why he's training with the Under-21 squad at the moment," said Bruce.
"He's been quite quick to reveal that he is in there and I hope he comes out and tells the reason why. If he apologises to myself and to the squad then he will come back into the fold. It's entirely up to Paul."
McShane has little time to work his way back into the first team, with Hull due to play his former club Sunderland on Boxing Day.
Bruce also has a personnel shortage to manage. Loanee Hatem Ben Arfa has played his last game at Hull, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore are both suspended, Michael Dawson, Mohamed Diame and Robert Snodgrass all injured, and captain Curtis Davis is rushing to recover from the calf injury he sustained against Swansea.
To boost the depleted squad, Bruce has recalled Tom Ince and Maynor Figueroa from their respective loan spells at Cardiff and Wigan.
