Luka Modric does not blame Birmingham midfielder Lee Bowyer for the tackle that broke the Tottenham star’s leg at the weekend.

The Croatia international is looking at six weeks out after going under the Blues’ man red-blooded challenge in Saturday 2-1 win for the home side at White Hart Lane.

But Modric has absolved the often controversial one-cap England international of any wrong-doing, as he believes there was no intention to hurt him.

And, although the 23-year-old must now sit out his country’s crucial World Cup qualifier against England, he does not harbour any ill will.

Modric said: “It was not a ferocious tackle but it hurt awfully and I knew something was wrong the moment it happened.

“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.”