IF STEVE Bruce called his midfield options "thin" last weekend, the same department was beginning to look positively gaunt when touching down in Germany yesterday.
The bold decision to off-load both Tom Cairney and Corry Evans to Blackburn in the 24 hours before travelling has left Bruce with just 19 outfield players to call upon in this afternoon's friendly with Dynamo Dresden.
That reality was not lost on the Tigers boss as he assessed his depleted squad at the team hotel last night but, tellingly, there was no sign of regret for his actions.
He will replace both Cairney and Evans with midfielders he believes will offer more in the Premier League. The only question is when.
The timing of this week's trading has left some fans twitchy with the new season now just 15 days away.
Loaning Cairney out to Blackburn was met with universal understanding, but allowing Evans to follow his team-mate's lead in a permanent deal worth £600,000 yesterday has split City's followers.
"The money we've got in we'll put towards a midfield player which we're obviously trying to bring in," Bruce told the Mail in Dresden.
"In the end it was a decent deal for all concerned. It puts a bit more in our kitty.
"I think everyone knows we're looking at bringing in a couple of midfielders, maybe three now we've let a couple out. We've got to bring at least a couple in but we'll be patient."
When discussing Evans, Bruce suffers pangs of sympathy similar to those felt when moving Jay Simpson and Jack Hobbs out of the KC Stadium this summer. The Northern Ireland international had featured in 32 league games last season and a Premier League debut was to be his reward for a role in City's promotion.
Bruce explained: "It was one that came out of the blue really. It was never intentional to move Corry on but with one year left on his contract and someone offering him three, I couldn't really stand in his way.
"I could have done, of course, but I didn't feel that was right.
"I'd envisaged Corry being here for this season to play some part but these things happen in football.
"It's the game I'm in where you sometimes have to make a decision that isn't easy. My job is to make those decisions.
"I like Corry as a lad, he's a great professional like Jack Hobbs, and I wish him every success in his career. "He deserves that but unfortunately I have to make the decisions that are horrible."
Evans' departure has seen City make a small profit on the £500,000 that turned an initial loan move from Manchester United into a permanent deal two years ago.
An initial fee of £600,000 could rise to £800,000 based on appearances and gives Bruce room for manoeuvre on his wage bill.
Cairney, meanwhile, has arrived at a crossroads in his career. At 22 he has entered the final year of his deal at the KC and it is hoped regular football at Ewood Park can rekindle a lost spark.
"Since he had his knee injury, when he missed four months, he was always on the fringes for me," said Bruce, who has yet to start Cairney in a league game.
"It's fair to say he's been on the fringes at this club for a long time and he maybe needs that challenge.
"He needs to kick-start his career so we'll see how he does in the next four months. One thing I'd say about Tom is that he's lost eight kilos since last summer and his body fat has gone from 15 per cent down to below nine.
"He's made a real big effort and I can only applaud him for that. That's one of the reasons why I've let him out. He needs to go and play. We all know he's got the talent so let's see what he can do.
"Who knows, he might come back a different player. We're still in control of things.
"I want to really monitor him and see how he goes. I couldn't say to him that he was going to play every week for me so we want a good look at him in the last year of his deal and make a decision then. It suits all parties and I hope he'll be playing every week."
Cairney could get that chance when Blackburn begin their Championship season at Derby tomorrow.
While Evans' groin troubles during pre-season rule him out, the on-loan midfielder is pushing for a place in Gary Bowyer's side at Pride Park.
Cairney was unveiled as a Blackburn player yesterday and admits his options will be left open throughout his five-month loan spell.
"Steve Bruce was very supportive and said I'd had a good pre-season and thinks if I play games I can keep progressing if I go back to Hull in January or stay here and extend the loan.
"As long as I'm playing football I'm happy and he wants that for me as well. Maybe, that has happened with other players before, extending loans or permanent or I don't know, anything can happen, or going back to Hull and playing.
"At 22 it's important to keep playing football, that's the main aim now."
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