BRUCE REVEALS JAKE’S TRAGEDY
STEVE BRUCE believes the death of Jake Livermore’s child last year contributed to the midfielder testing positive for cocaine.
Later this month the former Tottenham star will learn the length of his ban at a Football Association hearing, with the maximum penalty for the offence a two-year ban.
And while Bruce accepts Livermore, 25, has to be punished for his indiscretion, he has lifted the lid on the harrowing circumstances his midfielder had to cope with.
“Unfortunately he lost his baby just after the FA Cup final last year,” he said.
“Jake has kept all of the problems that he had to himself. All footballers think they are macho-men, but they have problems like everybody else.
“He has got to serve his punishment because he has done wrong and there is no disputing that, but there are obviously some circumstances that make you see he has been in a dark place for a long time.There’s no question it was a mitigating factor.
“He has been seeking help so we hope there will be a positive outcome at the end of the month.”