STEVE Bruce has invited a question mark over the future of Nick Proschwitz after the striker again struggled to make his mark in Hull City's 1-0 victory at Leyton Orient in the Capital One Cup last night.
The Tigers booked their place in the third round thanks to Robbie Brady's extra-time winner at Brisbane Road but it was a night where City's attacking ranks struggled to seize their opportunities.
A front two of Proschwitz and Matty Fryatt, supported out wide by Aaron Mclean and Cameron Stewart, caused the League One leaders disappointingly few problems in normal time and Bruce needed the late intervention of substitute Brady to spare his side a penalty shoot-out.
Making his first appearance of the season, Proschwitz did little to convince Bruce of his Premier League potential before being replaced midway through the second half.
And the pointed comments of the City boss last night suggested the £2.6m German striker will face an uncertain future at the KC Stadium just a year after his switch from SC Paderborn.
"The problem with Nick is his adaptation to the English game. He still hasn't quite grasped it," said Bruce.
"We thought he was maybe ready but unfortunately the physicality is something he finds difficult, especially playing in a cup tie. They're going to throw it into the box, scrap and fight, and that's exactly what they did. Unfortunately he finds that a struggle.
"We'll see what the options are for him going forward but he's like anyone, he needs to play. He's not getting that here. There might be an opportunity (to move) but we'll see."
Proschwitz was only handed the chance to start when parent club Sunderland blocked Danny Graham's involvement in the League Cup yesterday morning. That brought a partnership with Fryatt but neither player convinced they can replace the suspended Yannick Sagbo in the starting XI that faces Manchester City this weekend.
"I think it's fair to say they both had a struggle," Bruce said, discussing his front two.
"You know it's going to be difficult for Matty when he's been out for so long. I still don't think I've seen the real Matty Fryatt since I've been here. It's a serious injury he's had and it will take time."
City's safe passage through to the third round owed much to the efforts of a solid defensive effort. As part of a side featuring 11 changes from the team that beat Norwich 1-0 three days earlier, Liam Rosenior, Paul McShane, Alex Bruce and Joe Dudgeon all performed commendably to help debutant goalkeeper Steve Harper clinch a vital clean-sheet.
Second half debuts for Conor Townsend and Calaum Jahraldo-Martin also warranted the praise of Bruce, but the City boss admitted his much-changed side had ridden their luck before finally seeing off Orient.
Bruce added: "We played them last year in the FA Cup. They gave us a run for our money then and they did it again.
"It was an ideal opportunity for a lot of players to get a run out but we made hard work of it.
"It's never ever easy but we needed to play better than we did. We got through but on another night we might not have done.
"It was one of those difficult nights where you're just glad to be in the next round."
The third round draw of the Capital One Cup will take place this evening following the televised clash between Morecambe and Newcastle.
