Bruce has rebuffed newspaper reports that the French striker, who has played only a few games for Blues this season because of an ongoing knee injury, was about to have his contract paid up by the club. He told the club's official website: "The bottom line is that Christophe has had a problem with his knee and he's gone to France for a couple of days. "We're expecting him back sometime next week and all this talk of pay-offs and what have you is incorrect."