No Bowyer grudge for broken leg victim Modric

Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric insists he does not blame Lee Bowyer for the tackle that broke his leg.

Modric will be sidelined for at least six weeks as a result of the injury he sustained in a collision with Bowyer at the start of the second half in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Birmingham at White Hart Lane.

The 23-year-old will miss several of second-placed Tottenham’s Premier League matches, as well Croatia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against England on September 9 at Wembley.

Bowyer has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career but Modric does not believe the Birmingham midfielder intended to hurt him.

“It was not a ferocious tackle but it hurt awfully and I knew something was wrong the moment it happened,” Modric told the Sun on Monday.

“It’s like my whole world has crumbled because I’ll be out for at least six weeks. I’m terribly sad.

“The worst thing is knowing that I’ll be watching both my club and country from the sidelines for a while.”

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who also saw captain Ledley King limp off as Spurs maintained their 100 percent start to the season, added: “You could see he was in a hell of a lot of pain and, even though Luka is not a big bloke, it takes a lot for him to have to come off.

“It’s a big blow for us, we are already short of bodies in midfield but we will just have to get on with it.”