Sunderland v Spurs team news, returns and doubts ahead of Sunday two pm kick-off | OneFootball

Sunderland restart their Premier League campaign at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, hosting Spurs in a two pm kick-off. The match carries weight after the Black Cats’ Tyne-Wear derby comeback as they eye a top ten finish and a European push, while Spurs chase points to move clear of the relegation zone.

According to Sunderland Echo, Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of his first match since replacing Igor Tudor, having had a full week with his squad. Both sides saw key returns before the break, and after three further weeks Reinildo, Enzo Le Fee and Nordi Mukiele are expected to play bigger parts for the hosts. For Spurs, Conor Gallagher, Joao Palinha and Lucas Bergvall should be ready to feature more.

Guglielmo Vicario is a major doubt after surgery on a pre-existing hernia in the break. He is expected back this month, although the game might come too soon. If so, Antonin Kinsky is set for his first outing since being withdrawn in the first half of the first leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.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 has trained after a knock in the loss to Nottingham Forest.

Dan Ballard remains a major doubt with a hamstring problem 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 defeat, so availability remains uncertain and Sunderland will avoid undue risks.

Robin Roefs is also a doubt as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue. After roughly five weeks out, there is some hope he could be involved.

Source: Sunderland Echo