Sunderland manager Steve Bruce doesn't want Albania star Lorik Cana to change his ways even if he is suspended

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce says Lorik Cana won't change his style for the Premier League.

The Albania international picked up his fourth booking during his impressive performance against Liverpool on Saturday and Bruce is resigned to losing his captain for at least one suspension this season.

Cana's second-half performance in the 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light was particularly impressive after Bruce was forced to switch the summer signing from Marseille to centre-back after George McCartney withdrew at half-time

Bruce, who first spotted Cana playing for Sunderland against Liverpool in the Champions League, said the Wearside cult hero will not change his style of play.

The Sunderland manager said: 'I knew he was captain of his country and you don’t captain Marseille and a club like that if you don’t have something about you.

'I couldn’t believe they were making him available because of what he was in that part of the world. And it was possibly the easiest transfer we made as well. I couldn’t believe how easy it was.

'We agreed the fee in 24 hours, he came and flew to Amsterdam and signed that night. He didn’t want time to think about it or go around the stadium or hear about what we were trying to do. He just wanted to come and play in England.

'I told him people in England will love the way you’ll play. You maybe wouldn’t be appreciated in France or Spain, but the English will love you.

His second half performance against Liverpool was arguably, individually, as good as i’ve seen in a top top game and I’ve seen some good ones. He was immense.

'Both he and Lee Cattermole epitomise everything I like in a footballer. They go out and give everything they’ve got. They might not be technically gifted like some individuals but when you’ve got players like that in the team you can go to bed early on a Friday night and not worry.

'I knew Lorik would turn out to be a cult figure here and he’s proven to be that.

'You can’t take away his exuberance. He makes a genuine attempt to get the ball, it’s his nature. When you tackle as many times as he does, you’re going to get caught, but he doesn’t mean to do anything malicious.

'He just wants to try and tackle people and win the ball back. Ten years ago, that wouldn’t have been a yellow card but we knew about that when we were signing him and I’d rather have it than not. We’ll have to make sure we deal with it when the suspension comes.'

Sunderland are still awaiting the results of scans to Lee Cattermole and Kenwyne Jones who were both carried off on stretchers on Saturday.