Hull City forward Craig Fagan will have his club's full support if he takes legal action against Newcastle United's Danny Guthrie for the tackle that broke his leg on Saturday, the club's chairman said.

Guthrie was sent off for scything down Fagan in a reckless challenge towards the end of their Premier League match at St James' Park, which left Fagan with a fractured left leg. Hull won the match 2-1.

"To be frank, this is the sort of incident that, had it happened in the street, would have been regarded as common assault," Hull chairman Phil Duffen told reporters.

"We will be sitting down with him and discussing what to do, what decision or what action he might want to take. The timing of it for Craig and the implications, short term, for his career could be significant.

"He was in the team, playing well and you have to take into account his earning ability in terms of performance bonuses and things like that."

In a statement, the English FA said it did not have the power to extend automatic suspensions such as the three match ban Guthrie had received for the red card.

"The only circumstances in which we could take any further action would be to issue an additional charge against a player," the FA said. "This occurs only in exceptional cases."

Fagan, signed from Derby County after a successful loan spell last season is not expected to play again this year.