Sunderland and Spurs early team and injury news ahead of Stadium of Light clash | OneFootball

Sunderland restart their Premier League campaign on Sunday, hosting Spurs at the Stadium of Light. The match matters after their Tyne-Wear derby comeback and in their push for a top-ten finish and Europe.

According to Sunderland Echo, Spurs need points to climb away from the relegation zone. Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of his first match since replacing Igor Tudor after a full week with his new squad.

Both squads saw key players return before the break. After an extra three weeks, Reinildo, Enzo Le Fee and Nordi Mukiele are expected to play bigger parts for the hosts. Conor Gallagher, Joao Palinha and Lucas Bergvall should also feature for Spurs.

Guglielmo Vicario is a major doubt after hernia surgery during the break and, though expected back this month, Sunday may come too soon. If so, Antonin Kinsky could make his first appearance since being withdrawn in the first half of the Champions League first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid. Mathys Tel is available after returning to training following the loss to Nottingham Forest.

Dan Ballard is also a major doubt with the hamstring issue that kept him out of the Tyne-Wear derby and Northern Ireland’s play-off defeat to Italy. He has had a month since the Brighton loss to recover, but it remains to be seen if he is ready. Robin Roefs is a doubt too, though after around five weeks out with a non-serious hamstring problem there is hope he could return this weekend.

Source: Sunderland Echo