Bendtner’s sizeable wages deter Bruce’s interest in striker

Bruce has signed Danny Graham on loan from Swansea and Yannick Sagbo from Evian, but would still be interested should a proven scorer present themselves.

Arsenal fans may debate whether Bendtner falls into that category, but Bruce is a confirmed admirer having taken him on loan at both Birmingham and Sunderland.

The Denmark international is likely to be available permanently now, but his reported £50,000-a-week pay packet means Bruce may not be able to do business.

“Everyone assumes (an interest in Bendtner) but the problem with Nic is can I afford him?” said Bruce.

“He has a huge salary. I’ve been able to get him on loan at my last two clubs. I know the lad, he has terrific ability, but it’s difficult with the amount of money he earns at the minute.

“For us to go and make a huge difference, to get a striker who can get 20 goals a year – where does a club like ours get them?

“They are few and far between and if they are capable of getting 20 goals a season they’re usually too expensive.

“Can you get one in? It’s always difficult but we’re always trying. We’re looking to get maybe one more in. That will prove difficult, but we’re working away.”

Hull face Manchester City away in tomorrow’s early kick-off, having started the season with an equally tricky trip to Chelsea.

A 1-0 home success over Norwich in between has given them some respite, but Bruce is under no illusions about the size of the challenge awaiting at the Etihad Stadium especially after Manuel Pellegrini’s side were turned over by Cardiff last Sunday.

“We’re expecting a backlash because that’s what makes a really good team,” he said.

“They will be desperately disappointed with how they lost that game. I didn’t think they deserved to lose, but Cardiff were terrific in that last 20 minutes.

“We’ve got to take the backlash of a big team and we have to be ready for that challenge.

“The big thing is to take part in the game and pose a few problems ourselves, if we can.”

Hull go into the game on the back of an extra-time victory over Leyton Orient in the second round of the Capital One Cup.

Pellegrini, if he was watching, will have learned little about the Tigers from that with Bruce making 11 changes for the match.

That handed a chance to squad players to make an impression, but also showed the priorities Bruce has placed on the various competitions this season, with survival in the Premier League clearly top.

“The match gave me a chance to look at the second string if you like, though I wouldn’t want to call them that just yet,” said Bruce.

“We take the cups seriously but if I’d have played one of my big hitters and he gets an injury, is out for two to three months, then that leaves you in a desperate situation.

“I see Cardiff lost their centre-forward (Andreas Cornelius) who they paid £8m for. We got through the cup tie, and we move on.”