Source: Daily_Mail
Suspended Sunderland skipper Lorik Cana insists he's still Spurs bound
Lorik Cana may be out of Sunderland's trip to Tottenham this weekend, but the midfield maestro still intends to make his presence felt at White Hart Lane.[LNB]Steve Bruce's combative captain picked up his fifth booking of the season in Saturday's draw at home to West Ham, going into Andre Marriner's book after just 13 minutes for a wild tackle on Mark Noble and in fact he was fortunate the referee did not punish him for a second two-footed challenge on the same player after half-time.[LNB]The caution means Steve Bruce will be without former Marseille captain Cana, who has become an instant favourite with Sunderland fans, as well as Kenwyne Jones, who was sent off for pushing Herita Ilunga, and Lee Cattermole who is out for a further three months with a medial ligament injury.[LNB] Combatitve: Lorik Cana will miss the clash at White Hart Lane through suspension[LNB]Bruce has refused to try change the Albania international's style, despite the costly suspension so early in the season, and Cana certainly seems intent on making his impression on the Barclays Premier League in his own way.[LNB]He said: 'I'm most disappointed with the suspension because I'm going to leave my team, but I'm going to be there with them.[LNB]'I'm going to travel down to London to be with the team. I want to be with them before the game to help in any way I can. I think it's important that I'm there.[LNB]'The referee told me to be careful because if I made another dangerous tackle he would have to give me another yellow card. I tried to be careful but it was difficult.[LNB]'I thought it was wrong to give me a yellow card for the first tackle. It was a foul, not a booking. I didn't mean to injure my opponent. It's hard to play 79 minutes on a yellow card.'[LNB] Petty: Kenwyne Jones will also sit out the clash at Spurs through suspension after hitting out and Herita Ilunga[LNB]Bruce admits Sunderland face an uphill task at Spurs with so many key players missing, and Cana in particular has made an impression on team-mates and supporters alike.[LNB]Bruce believes the £5 million summer signing from France, who took over from Dean Whitehead as his captain, typifies the spirit he demands .[LNB]The Sunderland boss said: 'The personnel has changed a bit here and the captain certainly helps because he leads by example. He does not take any nonsense.[LNB]'I am not saying we are the real deal because a week ago, I was raging over the performance at Birmingham but we are going along nicely and just have to make sure that we keep bodies fit.[LNB]'That is the big problem we are going to have plus Cana is suspended now.[LNB]'We have to deal with the hardship of missing players. When you are missing Lorik Cana, Lee Cattermole and Kenwyne Jones, they are a big part of our team but we have to deal with it.[LNB]'And when someone is handed his chance, like Andy Reid was at Norwich, they have to grab it.'[LNB] Sunderland 2 West Ham 2: Bruce blasts Jones and Ilunga's antics GRAHAM POLL: Record nine red cards show inconsistency in refereeing... just ask Liverpool and Aston VillaHalloween horror: Eight players see red in Premier League day of shame SUNDERLAND FC
