Birmingham manager Steve Bruce will decide over the next 48 hours whether to discipline Nicky Butt for walking out of the team hotel before Monday’s game against West Ham.

Butt left the hotel and went home after being overlooked for the match at West Ham, which Blues lost 3-0.

“I will be doing my own inquiries into it and we will deal with the matter over the next 48 hours in our own internal way,” said Bruce.

“I will have discussions with him. He is obviously disappointed.”

“Nicky didn’t ask for permission, he decided on his own bat to leave and go home.

“Alex (Bruce’s son) was a makeshift midfielder with the injuries we’ve got but I wouldn’t have thought that played any part in Nicky’s decision. Not at all.

“Nicky didn’t play in the last game because of injury and we decided that he was not going to be involved in the 16.

“He travelled with the team and when he wasn’t involved with the 16, he left to go home.”

Nicky went home from the team hotel. Of course, that is not normal but you can understand his frustration and disappointment.

“He felt he would be better going and watching it at home rather than be with us. It is not ideal but that is what has happened.

“I will deal with it in a way I see fit. It is a bit difficult now with emotions running the way they are because I’ve just seen my team get stuffed.”

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