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Steve Bruce: Shane Long deal was big bonus for Hull

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Hull boss Steve Bruce today claimed Shane Long has been a loss to West Bromwich Albion as the striker prepared to face his former club tomorrow.

But Bruce insists the Ireland star has nothing to prove when he lines up for the Tigers against the Baggies at the KC Stadium.

Long was sold controversially to the Humberside club for a fee that could rise to £7m – despite the Baggies being in relegation trouble and Nicolas Anelka facing an uncertain future over his 'quenelle' goal celebration.

Anelka has since been dismissed by the Baggies after being banned for five matches by the FA while Long has netted twice in six games for Hull and formed an eye-catching partnership with fellow January recruit Nikica Jelavic.

Bruce said: "West Brom's loss has certainly been our gain in my opinion. We took advantage of him coming to the end of his contract.

"He's had a really good start to his life here and quickly made himself popular with our supporters.

"I'm sure he'll be wanting to do well again and score against his old club, that's only natural, but I don't think he'll think he's got anything to prove.

"I know how popular Shane was with West Brom supporters. I live down in the Midlands and I know just how popular he was there.

"I don't think Shane Long's got anything to prove to them. They know he's an honest lad who always gave his best there.

"It's not taken him long at all to settle here and that's because the kid has got a great work ethic.

"Supporters love to see ability but the one thing that every supporter has got in common, they want to see someone with desire and hunger.

"That's the same up and down the country and Shane's got that in abundance.

"The next four games are huge, they're the real crux of the season, it's all come to this and Shane will play a big part in that."

Long became Albion's record signing when add-on clauses took the fee the Baggies paid Reading for his services to £4.9m.

That record was broken twice in the summer with the arrivals of Stephane Sessegnon and Victor Anichebe and Long's failure to agree a new contract at The Hawthorns saw him sold despite the club's on-field plight.

And former Hull forward Peter Swan believes the Republic international could have the last word tomorrow.

"There is always a part of you that wants to do better against your previous club," said Swan, writing in his local newspaper column.

"By letting him go, the Baggies basically told Long they have better strikers in their squad than him.

"I would beg to differ, because Long is a quality striker who could have provided the goals to keep West Brom up this season.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Long bagged a goal or two on Saturday and end his run of games without one."