Bruce left impressed by impact of striker Diomande

The Norwegian international netted only his second goal in Tigers’ colours last weekend with a dramatic stoppage time equaliser at Huddersfield Town.

It was a welcome boost for Diomande, who joined City on the final day of last summer’s transfer window for £1.7m from Stabaek.

A groin injury sustained on his final appearance in Norway meant he had to wait more than three months for his debut in England.

And with City at the time in such excellent form, opportunities to shine have been few and far between.

Now, though, with Hull looking to revive their flagging season – starting with tomorrow night’s televised clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers – Bruce admits the striker has done his chances of making a telling impact no harm at all.

“I was pleased for Diomande,” said the Hull manager, who will be without captain Michael Dawson for three weeks due to a calf problem.

“He has had to be patient. He banged on the door today and deserves a go. He is a Norwegian international and got plenty of goals over there. He is a bit untidy at times and he has to improve on that.

“But the one thing he brings is he has come on twice and scored a goal. Good for him.

“He has never really had a chance. Up until the last eight games, we were the top goalscorers and had the best defensive record. So, I couldn’t do anything.

“But he gave us a reminder. He is quick and powerful. And he can head a ball, which I was delighted to see.”

Holders Barcelona are out of the Champions League after Antoine Griezmann’s brace sent Atletico Madrid through to semi-finals with a 2-0 quarter-final second-leg victory.

After returning from the Nou Camp with a 2-1 first-leg deficit last week, Griezmann headed home in the 36th minute and then struck a late penalty to give Diego Simone’s men a famous 3-2 aggregate win, sending them to the last four of the Champions League for just the second time.

In the other remaining quarter-final, Arturo Vidal’s thunderbolt and Thomas Muller’s tap-in comfortably put Bayern Munich through to the Champions League semi-finals for the fifth successive season, this time with a 3-2 aggregate win over Benfica.