Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon 'bloody upset' after Defoe breaks his arm

Steve Bruce had admitted Scotland keeper Craig Gordon is “bloody upset" after needing an operation and a metal plate inserted into his broken arm following his clash with England striker Jermain Defoe.

Gordon has received an apology from Tottenham star Defoe, who he accused of making a “poor challenge" when he appeared to leave his foot in late as the Sunderland stopper dived at his feet a fortnight ago.

The British record-fee keeper, signed by Roy Keane for £9million, had just hit top form after a troubled injury-hit couple of seasons, and he is now confined to gentle cycling in the gym rather than the heat of top-flight battle.

Bruce said: “It is a blow to lose Craig. Whether Jermain could get out of the road only he knows, but Craig is bloody upset. He has a broken arm, he has had an operation on it and a plate inserted into it.

“Craig gives you that calming influence and he was just getting his confidence back. He played with an injury for a lot of last season and that drained a little bit out of him. I was delighted with his form before the injury. He was starting to look the goalkeeper we paid all that money for. It’s part and parcel of the game but he is devastated as you would imagine.”

Defoe said yesterday: “It was a funny one. The ball got played through and, at the time, I thought I could get a toe in. There was no intention to hurt him.

“I texted Darren Bent and told him to pass on my apologies, which he did. Hopefully, he (Gordon) is all right. I think he’s out for a couple of months. I didn’t go out to hurt him, that’s not my game.”

The controversy added to Steve Bruce’s injury and suspension problems ahead of Arsenal’s visit this weekend. Kenwyne Jones and Lorik Cana are suspended.

But John Mensah and Bolo Zenden are in contention after training yesterday and Lee Cattermole has had his leg brace removed.

Bruce confirmed he will not be bidding for Middlesbrough’s David Wheater in January saying: “I spoke to Strachan a week ago and it’s certainly not true.”

Bruce is compiling a DVD for refereeing chief Keith Hackett to complain at “inconsistency". Jones was sent off by ref Andre Marriner for a shove on Herita Ilunga, but an similar offence by Pascal Chimbonda a week later was greeted by a yellow card by Marriner.

Bruce said: “I’ve complied a DVD of Mr Marriner. If you watched when  Pascal Chimbonda punched another player, he got a yellow card and it was the same referee. He’s free from suspension and I’ve asked for that to be cleared up. That’s why we get so frustrated.”

After a holidaying in Barbados in the same hotel as Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley he denied rumours on Tyneside that they’d talked saying: “I never spoke to him but I realised he was in the same hotel. I can swear I didn’t speak to him!"