STEVE BRUCE, the Birmingham City manager, is to launch an investigation into the non-appearance of Nicky Butt at Upton Park last night for his team’s defeat by West Ham United. Butt learnt at the team hotel that he would not be involved in the match and opted to return home.
“Nicky has had a thigh injury and I decided that he would not be involved,” Bruce said. “He travelled down with the team, but when he realised that he was not playing, he left to go home. He felt he would be better off watching it there but, to me, that is not ideal. He did not ask my permission.
“I can understand his frustration, but I will be making my inquiries into this over the next 48 hours. Will he be fined? I will have discussions with him and I will deal with it.”
Butt, 31, is on a season-long loan from Newcastle United but has failed to earn a regular place in Bruce’s struggling side, mostly because of injury. He can expect a fine for breaking team protocol — unselected players usually go to the ground — and his future at St Andrew’s must be in jeopardy.