James Maddison is in Tottenham’s matchday squad today for the first time this season.
The Englishman tore his ACL in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle and was expected to miss most if not all of this campaign, but has been named to the bench as Brighton visit north London.
It had been hoped that Vicario would return to fitness this week, but he was absent from training as De Zerbi confirmed that he would not be available for the visit of Brighton.
"Vicario, no (he is not fit). Vicario is another top guy. I'm looking forward to working with him. Anyway, [Antonin] Kinsky played very well in Sunderland,” De Zerbi said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“But Vicario is another important player for us. Big experience, big character, personality. And we are waiting for him.”
De Zerbi has quickly had to get to grips with Spurs’ spiralling injury list, but he has been boosted by the return of Rodrigo Bentancur from a hamstring injury.
Bentancur has been out since January after undergoing surgery, but starts this afternoon less than a week after returning to training.
The new Spurs boss deployed Conor Gallagher, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to little effect at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland dominated before taking the lead in the 61st minute through Nordi Mukiele’s deflected strike.
With De Zerbi’s midfield combination failing to have the desired impact, Bentancur could be thrust straight back into the starting lineup, while calls for Xavi Simons to start have only grown this week.
Randal Kolo Muani is back in the side after a tricky trip to Sunderland, with Simons also restored.
Spurs are in must-win territory now, with just six games to go and two points separating them from 17th-place West Ham.
They face an in-form Brighton side looking for their first league win of the calendar year as they look to move out of the relegation zone.