Sunderland v Spurs early team news as Vicario a major doubt | OneFootball

Sunderland return to Premier League action on Sunday when Spurs visit the Stadium of Light, 2pm kick-off. The Black Cats aim to back up their Tyne-Wear derby comeback in the push for a top-ten finish and a European place. Spurs are chasing vital points to pull clear of the relegation zone, with Roberto De Zerbi taking charge for the first time since replacing Igor Tudor after a full week on the training ground.

According to Sunderland Echo, both squads saw timely progress before the break and several players could have bigger roles this weekend. For Sunderland, Reinildo, Enzo Le Fee and Nordi Mukiele are expected to feature more. For Spurs, Conor Gallagher, Joao Palinha and Lucas Bergvall should be in contention after injury lay-offs.

Guglielmo Vicario is a major doubt after surgery on a pre-existing hernia during the break. He is expected to return later this month but Sunday might come too soon, and if so, Antonin Kinsky is set for his first outing since being withdrawn in the first half of the first leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Mathys Tel is available. The forward was injured in the loss to Nottingham Forest before the pause but has been pictured in training in recent days.

Dan Ballard remains a major doubt. He missed the Tyne-Wear derby and Northern Ireland’s play-off defeat to Italy with a hamstring issue, underlining that it was not minor. He has had a month to recover since the Brighton defeat but it is unclear if he will be risked on Sunday.

Robin Roefs is a doubt as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, which kept him out of the derby. After roughly five weeks out with what was not considered serious, there is some hope he could be available this weekend.

Source: Sunderland Echo