Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits he would have liked to have withdrawn Lorik Cana from action in the past month.

The 26-year-old Albania international, a £5million summer signing from Marseille, was a revelation at the start of the campaign as he and Lee Cattermole teamed up in a formidable central midfield partnership.

However, with Cattermole sidelined by a knee injury, Cana by his own admission found the relentless nature of the Barclays Premier League a drain on his physical resources.

Bruce said: "It's fair to say that if I had people available and fit, he could have done with a break from it.

"He is used to having a month off at Christmas. He had a wonderful start, but he has found the Premier League now for what it is.

"It is so demanding and so tough, but make no mistake, he will be all right.

"There have been times when I would liked to have freshened him up a little bit and given him the weekend off, but it's not been possible."