Jermain Defoe will hope to play a key role in Sunderland’s quest for a first win in four league outings when the Black Cats visit the White Hart Lane for a clash with his former club Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
In September, the Black Cats needed Harry Kane’s late own-goal to earn a point against the Spurs in an entertaining fixture at the Stadium of Light, which saw both sides score in the opening five minutes.
Sunderland, who are just a point above the drop-zone, mainly because of their poor attacking record, will hope that new signing Defoe proves the difference this time. Defoe arrived from Toronto FC in a swap deal that will see Jozy Altidore head the other way.
Gus Poyet is banking on the deal being rubber-stamped on Friday to ensure that the former Spurs striker, who has been training with Mauricio Pochettino’s side for a few weeks, will be available to face his old teammates.
Spurs are in decent form in the league, with four wins in their last six outings. Pochettino’s men are also through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after they knocked Burnley out with a 4-2 victory in a replay last Wednesday.
But they need to bounce back in the top-four race after losing against Crystal Palace in their last league outing. That defeat left Spurs in sixth-place – three points behind the Champions League places.
Tottenham team news
- Erik Lamela and Ryan Mason could miss out with hamstring and calf problems, respectively.
- Nabil Bentaleb is away on international duty with Algeria.
Sunderland team news
- Liam Bridcutt sits out through suspension after being sent-off in the defeat to Liverpool.
- Jack Rodwell is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
- Lee Cattermole (groin), Anthony Reveillere (calf) and Steven Fletcher (groin) are all expected to shake off their injuries in time to feature.
Tottenham vs Sunderland prediction
Benjamin Stambouli could start in central midfield alongside Mousa Dembele should Mason miss out, while Andros Townsend may continue as an inverted right winger if Lamela fails to make the starting XI.
Hugo Lloris should return in goal after he was rested for the FA Cup win against Burnley.
Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane will also return to the side in what should be Pochettino’s strongest line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Should Defoe’s paperwork be completed in time then the Spurs legend will want to start against Tottenham, but Poyet may opt for Fletcher as the lone striker in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Cattermole will probably return to the side at the base of central midfield, with Jordi Gomez and Sebastian Larsson in more advanced midfield roles while Adam Johnson and Connor Wickham start as wide attacking midfielders.
This game should settle down to Spurs pressing high as usual and keeping a high defensive line when in possession with their full-backs charging into Sunderland’s half, while their wide attacking midfielders drift infield.
The Black Cats initially defend their half with five across midfield. Sunderland’s formation should be good enough for Poyet’s men to cancel out Spurs man-to-man when defending so the key for Spurs may lie in their attacking midfielders.
Nacer Chadli, Eriksen and Townsend will have to frequently rotate positions in the final-third to link-up play and find pockets of space to exploit.
