Tottenham XI vs Sunderland: Kudus injury latest, confirmed team news and predicted first De Zerbi lineup | OneFootball

Key blow may have rocked Spurs before another new era begins amid Premier League relegation fight

Mohammed Kudus could potentially miss the rest of the season in a major blow to new Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi.

It was hoped he would be in contention to face Sunderland this weekend in De Zerbi’s first game in charge.

However, reports have now surfaced suggesting that Kudus could be set to undergo surgery, ruling him out of Spurs’ final seven games of the season and casting his World Cup hopes with Ghana into doubt.

Kudus still has the most Premier League assists of any Spurs player this season, and his prolonged absence would come as a huge blow as the club look to stave off the threat of relegation.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who underwent surgery on a hernia injury over the international break, is also a doubt to face Sunderland.

Spurs said in a statement that the surgery had been timed to minimise the amount of time Vicario would miss, but regardless, it looks doubtful that he will be fit enough to play on Sunday.

Vicario’s injury means that Antonin Kinsky is likely to start for the first time since his nightmare performance away at Atletico Madrid last month under Igor Tudor.

The Czech ‘keeper gifted Atletico two goals in nine minutes before being replaced just 17 minutes into his Champions League debut.

It is telling that while De Zerbi has only added two new members to his coaching staff, he has elected to bring in long-time fitness coach Marcattilio Marcattilii.

Debut: Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of Spurs for the first time against Sunderland

REUTERS

De Zerbi has inherited a squad riddled with injuries, and one of his major priorities will be to ensure as many players as possible return to fitness before the end of the season.

That said, the Italian will be boosted by the returns of Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel, who both featured heavily in footage of De Zerbi’s first training session last week.

Bergvall came off the bench during Spurs’ 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest before the international break, while Tel had to be withdrawn midway through the second half with a groin issue and pulled out of the France Under-21 squad.

Both players, though, look set to be available for selection on Wearside despite remaining at Hotspur Way over the international break.

Pape Matar Sarr is a doubt after suffering a shoulder injury while playing for Senegal, while Rodrigo Bentancur is edging closer to returning from a serious hamstring injury.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are long-term absentees, but there is optimism that both could play before the end of the season.

Spurs could find themselves in the relegation zone before they play Sunderland, with just one point currently separating them from 18th-place West Ham, who host bottom club Wolves on Friday night.

De Zerbi needs to make an immediate impact, but it remains to be seen whether he will opt for a three or a four-man defence, having switched between both systems during his managerial career so far.

One thing we do know is that De Zerbi favours a ball-dominant style, and so his selections will likely reflect his desire to maintain possession and bait his opponents into pressuring his team.

De Zerbi has already admitted that results are more important than style heading into the final seven games of the season, and a fast start is imperative, with Spurs yet to win a league game this calendar year.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Bergvall; Kolo Muani, Simons, Tel; Solanke

Doubts: Bentancur, Sarr, Vicario

Injured: Maddison, Davies, Kulusevski, Odobert, Bissouma, Kudus

Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday April 12, 2026

Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland

How to watch: Sky Sports