Hull City

Steve Bruce offers Jake Livermore support

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 11 September 2015

Steve Bruce says that he will welcome Jake Livermore back with open arms after he escaped a drugs ban, but claims he "let him down" during the midfielder's time of need.

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has defended the actions of Jake Livermore by claiming that "we all make mistakes".

It was announced on Thursday afternoon that the 25-year-old will face no suspension after testing positive for cocaine.

The midfielder avoided punishment due to the "specific and unique nature of the circumstances surrounding the case", which came after the death of his child.

Livermore was initially suspended by Hull, but Bruce will now welcome the one-cap England international back with open arms in the "next few weeks".

"He was delighted to be back as you can imagine," the Tigers boss told reporters. "He's been through a lot. We hope he can get over the problems he's suffered.

"Some people will never forgive him but as far as I'm concerned he's apologised for his mistake. I feel like I let him down a little bit. There was obviously times when he was in a dark place.

"We should have done more. Let's let him get on with his life and back playing. He's in decent shape. He's a natural athlete. I'll never condone what he's done but in life we all make mistakes. I hope he'll be ready to return in the next few weeks."

Livermore, who faced a possible two-year ban, joined Hull from Tottenham Hotspur for £8m in August 2014.