Sunderland make their long-awaited return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when Spurs visit the Stadium of Light (2pm kick off).
The game has real significance for the Black Cats after their stunning Tyne-Wear derby comeback, and they will be hoping that they can demonstrate their top-ten credentials and further bolster their position in the race for a European spot. The significance for Spurs is obvious, as they seek vital points to move away from the Premier League relegation zone. Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of his first game since replacing Igor Tudor, and having had a full week to work with his new squad on the training pitch.
For both squads, there were green shoots in the last game before the break in terms of personnel with key players returning. Following an extra three weeks of recovery and training, Reinildo, Enzo Le Fee and Nordi Mukiele are all expected to play an increased part for the hosts. For Spurs, Conor Gallagher, Joao Palinha and Lucas Bergvall should all be able to play a significant part after their recovery from injury. Both clubs are still assessing some major doubts for the game, however, and know that they will be missing some key figures. Here’s the latest news as we have it from both camps...