Craig: Defoe broke my arm and left me raging but I’d shake hands now
CRAIG GORDON insists his spat with Jermain Defoe is the past.
The striker’s arrival at Ibrox brought memories of his clash with the Celtic keeper flooding back.
Gordon was left with his arm shattered after a late challenge by Defoe when the pair met 10 years ago while representing Sunderland and Spurs respectively in a game at White Hart Lane.
The Scotland ace needed three operations to repair the damage and, before the clash between Scotland and England in 2017, Gordon confessed he was so angry about the incident at the time that he blanked an attempt by the hitman to make a telephone apology.
But with time having healed his arm and wiped away the angst, Gordon insists there’s no more ill feeling as the pair prepare to go head to head in a Premiership title fight.
He said: “It was Defoe that caused my broken arm, a lot of years ago, and there has been a lot of water under the bridge since then so I’ll be getting on with it.
“I wasn’t happy at the time. I was annoyed. I did think he meant to kick me rather than the ball, which happens in tackles.
“Sometimes you mean to give the player a little kick, that can happen, but I’m not suggesting he meant to break my arm.
“He’s not that type of player. He never would have meant to do that.
“It was a bad challenge which didn’t need to be made but I’m not going to make a big thing about it. It’s done and in the past.
“I feel strong, I’ve come back. It’s not something that will be in my mind.
“He did try to contact me afterwards but I declined the opportunity to speak to him. I was still too angry at that time but that’s long finished.
“I played against him for Sunderland after it. He was just another player. I’d shake his hand. There won’t be any problem. It’s a long time ago, it should remain in the past and we can get on with it.”
Gordon is full of respect for Defoe’s ability and reckons the ex-England hitman could still be a top performer at 36.
He said: “Could be. Time will tell. He has scored a lot of goals and that will make people sit up and take notice.”