Broken arm rules Gordon out of Scots friendly

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 21:32

SCOTLAND goalkeeper Craig Gordon is out of Saturday's friendly international with Wales after suffering a fractured arm while playing for Sunderland against Tottenham on Saturday.

Gordon could face another lengthy spell on the sidelines, having missed much of last season with a knee injury. The 9 million signing from Hearts had to battle to regain his place in the Sunderland first team, and had re-established himself as the No1 choice this season.

Club medical staff will assess the severity of the injury in the coming days before determining how many matches he is likely to miss.

The Wearside club revealed Gordon's blow on their website, explaining he suffered the fracture in a collision with Jermaine Defoe during Tottenham's 2-0 win at White Hart Lane.

Gordon, 26, had to be replaced by Marton Fulop midway through the second half of Saturday's match.

"Craig's in a lot of pain," said Sunderland manager Steve Bruce.

Gordon's absence presents a further opportunity for Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall, who proved an able deputy earlier this season when he had to step in for the injured Gordon when Scotland played the Netherlands at Hampden in the final qualifying match for the World Cup finals. The other goalkeeper in the Scotland squad for the match in Cardiff is Jamie Langfield of Aberdeen.

Scotland manager George Burley could also lose full-back Steven Whittaker. The Rangers player was forced out of Saturday's home game against St Mirren at half-time with a hamstring strain and is rated as doubtful as the squad reports for duty later today.