Sunderland host Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light on Sunday
Depleted Spurs could be without up to 10 players for their trip to Sunderland on Sunday with Roberto De Zerbi facing a major selection headache ahead of his first game in charge.
Injury concerns continue to mount for the north London club ahead of a crucial fixture, particularly for the visitors who are battling against relegation to the Championship.
Long-term knee injuries to Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski are expected to keep both out, while James Maddison remains sidelined with a knee injury. Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies and Guglielmo Vicario are all targeting returns this month, but are unlikely to be risked.
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Yves Bissouma and Mathys Tel are also doubts with knocks – though the former was spotted in training recently – further limiting De Zerbi’s options as he prepares for his first game in charge.
There are also fresh concerns over Pape Matar Sarr. The midfielder picked up a shoulder injury while on international duty with Senegal and missed their recent win over Gambia. He has not yet been seen in training since returning to the club, casting doubt over his involvement this weekend.
A clearer picture is expected when De Zerbi speaks to the press for the first time ahead of the game later this week, with updates likely on several key players.
For Sunderland, the timing could be significant. Régis Le Bris’ side are pushing for a top-10 finish and harbour outside hopes of a European place, while Spurs arrive on Wearside under pressure and short on numbers.
With both teams chasing very different objectives, the availability of De Zerbi’s squad could prove decisive.
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