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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is more than disappointed that his star striker Asamoah Gyan has left the club on loan to Al-Ain having reportedly agreed to stay just 48 hours earlier.
Bruce claimed he was confused by the African Player of the Year’s decision to swap the Premier League for the United Arab Emirates by maintaining Gyan had agreed to remain at the club just two days earlier.
Bruce defended his side’s poor start to the season which has yet to secure them a win and which included a lacklustre showing against Chelsea, where they were defeated 2-1, while saying it was not a factor in Gyan’s decision to leave.
“I’m not going to let anything disrupt the dressing room and if there is something disrupting it, you get it out” Bruce said. “It’s quite simple. I had a conversation with him less than 48 hours ago and at the end of it he shook my hand and said he wanted to remain a Sunderland player.
"Then another offer comes in from a team in the United Arab Emirates and he’s desperate to go, so I don’t want anybody to hang about the place when they don’t want to.
“It’s been ongoing now for weeks and months but it sums it up – it’s a way to leave the Premier League to go and play in Qatar. I can let everyone else make their own conclusions to that.
“I’m not going to make any excuse. We played against an excellent Chelsea team who are going to be there or thereabouts when the trophies are dished out.
“But I’m not going to let anything disrupt the dressing room and if there is something disrupting it, you get it out.
They may be brave words, but in reality, the timing of Gyan’s departure means Bruce will now have to wait until the transfer window re-opens in January before he can start shopping for a replacement.
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