Roberto De Zerbi faces major Tottenham selection crisis before Sunderland trip | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur could be without up to 10 players for the trip to Sunderland, leaving Roberto De Zerbi with a major selection headache for his first game in charge.

According to Sunderland Echo, injuries have mounted ahead of the Premier League meeting at the Stadium of Light, a crucial fixture at both ends of the table as Spurs battle to avoid relegation.

Long-term knee issues to Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski are expected to keep both out, while James Maddison remains sidelined with a knee problem. Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies and Guglielmo Vicario are targeting returns this month but are unlikely to be risked.

Yves Bissouma and Mathys Tel are also doubts with knocks, though the former has been seen in training recently. There are fresh concerns over Pape Matar Sarr, who sustained a shoulder injury with Senegal, missed their win over Gambia and has not yet been seen in training since returning to the club.

De Zerbi is expected to offer clarity when he addresses the media later this week, with updates likely on several key players. For Sunderland, the timing could be significant as Régis Le Bris’ side chase a top-10 finish and hold outside hopes of Europe, while Spurs arrive short on numbers and under pressure. Availability may prove decisive.

Source: Sunderland Echo