Spurs v Sunderland Premier League Preview: Defoe Back, Bent To Face Former Side

Saturday 7th November 2009

Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland Match Preview

Tottenham Hotspur, currently 4th in the English Premier League, host Sunderland, who are in 8th place in the EPL, in their match at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon.

Tottenham have lost their past two Premier League matches, against Arsenal and Everton, but will be hoping to move ahead of Manchester City in the EPL table with a win.

Jermain Defoe is available again after serving a three-match supension, while winger Aaron Lennon may be available after recovering from an ankle injury, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp saying he has a “50-50” chance of featuring in the match.

But Spurs will definitely be without Sebastien Bassong with a hamstring injury, and Luka Modric, who is still recovering from a fractured leg.

Robbie Keane is expected to start alongside Defoe, while Peter Crouch is likely to start the match on the bench.

Sunderland, who have drawn their last two matches – against Aston Villa and West Ham United – will be without striker Kenwyne Jones and Llorik Cana for the match, with Jones suspended for his red-card against West Ham, while Cana picked-up his fifth yellow card of the season and so has to serve a one-match ban.

Boudewijn Zenden is likely to have failed to recover from a hip problem in time to feature against Spurs, while John Mensah is also a major doubt.

Lee Cattermole is out with a medial ligament injury, but Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is hoping that striker Fraizer Campbell will be fit for the match after recovering from a thigh injury, joining former Spurs striker Darren Bent in attack for Sunderland.

Tottenham Hotspur (team to be chosen from): Gomes, Cudicini, Corluka, Hutton, Naughton, King, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Lennon, Bentley, Huddlestone, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Crouch, Defoe.

Sunderland (team to be chosen from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, Turner, Richardson, McCartney, Reid, Malbranque, Henderson, Campbell, Bent, Healy, Murphy, Meyler, Reed.