Roberto De Zerbi handed potential Tel boost for Sunderland trip and vows to stay at Spurs | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi has received a timely lift with Mathys Tel back in Spurs training before Sunday's first game at Sunderland, and he has pledged to remain next season regardless of relegation.

According to Sunderland Echo, Tel had been an early doubt after a knock in the defeat to Nottingham Forest before the break, then he withdrew from France U21s. He has since been seen in club footage from De Zerbi's first session.

De Zerbi said the immediate focus is solely on Sunderland and that preparation will be taken game by game. He accepted limited training time may demand pragmatism, yet he wants Spurs to reflect their possession-first tradition and to show courage with and without the ball. He said he has signed a five-year deal and will be Tottenham's head coach next season whatever happens.

Conor Gallagher, Lucas Bergvall and Joao Palhinha were also seen in the training footage after recent injuries. Guglielmo Vicario is a major doubt following hernia surgery during the break, and Pape Sarr is a fresh doubt with a shoulder problem on Senegal duty. Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur could be in contention at the Stadium of Light after beginning individual work before the pause.

Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma are pushing to return this month, while James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski hope to be back before the end of the campaign. Wilson Odobert remains a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.

Source: Sunderland Echo