Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has said that the shock transfer of Asamoah Gyan to Al-Ain has been put behind him.
The striker made a surprise loan move to the United Arab Emirates team last week despite earlier suggesting that he was content to stay at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats boss has yet to reveal why the 25-year-old opted for a move away from the Premier League side but admits that he is baffled at the Ghana international’s decision.
"I think the big thing was we had to draw a line under it and get it done because it was rumbling on for weeks and weeks," Bruce told Sky Sports News.
"I never thought for one minute that he would contemplate playing [in the UAE], no disrespect, but I think for the last home game they had something like 253 people, which tells you where he is going to play his football.
"As I said last week we will let people make their own conclusions as to why he has gone.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland take on Stoke City in the Premier League showdown on Sunday.
