Tottenham v Sunderland preview

Black Cats hope for opening day repeat

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 18th January 2008

keane roy

Keane: Targeting away win

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com's prediction: 2-0

SKY BET odds: Spurs 4/9, Draw 5/2, Sunderland 15/2

One to Watch: Dimitar Berbatov

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Sunderland take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday hoping to repeat their sensational start to the Premier League season.

The Black Cats recorded a last-gasp win over Spurs in their first game on their return to the top flight when Michael Chopra struck in injury time at the Stadium of Light in August.

And Roy Keane's side will settle for a repeat in North London as they go in search of their first league away win of the season.

Tottenham, though, are unlikely to be in a welcoming mood and Spurs will hope to avenge their opening day defeat while also continuing their renaissance under Juande Ramos.

Welcome back

The Tottenham manager will welcome back Tom Huddlestone after the midfielder completed a three-match suspension in Spurs' last game against Reading in the FA Cup.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson will hope to return to the squad after missing the replay against Reading as his wife had just given birth, but the shot-stopper is again expected to miss out on a starting place as Ramos continues to add his personal touch to Spurs.

That will mean Radek Cerny is again named No.1 after impressing on his recent performances between the Spurs sticks.

Ledley King is expected to return after being rested against the Royals, while star striker Dimitar Berbatov, who missed the trip to the Madejski with the flu, should also start.

International duty

Didier Zokora is on international duty and Darren Bent (knee) has been struggling, while Gareth Bale (foot), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Anthony Gardner (ankle) are out.

Sunderland will definitely be without Ross Wallace after Keane was hit by the news that the winger will be out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.

Anthony Stokes hopes to earn a run in attack after impressing in the victory over Portsmouth, while new signing Jean-Yves M'voto could be named in Keane's squad.

The former Paris Saint-Germain defender recently agreed a three-and-a-half year contract at the Stadium of Light and is hoping to earn a starting role as Sunderland attempt to escape relegation.

Defender Danny Higginbotham will be sidelined for between four and six weeks after undergoing surgery to pin a broken toe, while midfielder Grant Leadbitter will be out for two to three weeks with a similar fracture.

Dickson Etuhu is on African Cup of Nations duty with Nigeria, while Carlos Edwards continues his recovery from a broken leg.