Team news

Tottenham preview
Aaron Lennon could return for Tottenham from an ankle injury for their Barclays Premier League match against Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

The England winger picked up the problem in the loss against Stoke a fortnight ago and was expected to be missing, but manager Harry Redknapp has now given him a "50/50 chance" of featuring.

Playmaker Luka Modric is still recovering from a fractured fibula and is absent, while defender Sebastien Bassong's hamstring injury will keep him sidelined for another couple of weeks.

Striker Jermain Defoe is available again after serving a three-match suspension.

Sunderland preview
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce faces a major selection headache.

Striker Kenwyne Jones is suspended after being sent off during last weekend's 2-2 draw with West Ham, while skipper Lorik Cana, who picked up his fifth booking of the season in the same game, also misses out.

Frontman Fraizer Campbell is expected to shake off a thigh problem, but Cana's absence is a real blow with Lee Cattermole (medial ligaments) also sidelined.

John Mensah (calf) and Bolo Zenden (hip) are again likely to be missing, and youngsters David Meyler and Adam Reed are included in the squad.

Darren Bent will not allow his return to Tottenham to overshadow Sunderland's search for three more points.

The #10million striker heads back to White Hart Lane for the first time since the Black Cats brought his miserable spell there to an end with a summer swoop.

Manager Steve Bruce has insisted the 25-year-old, who has eight goals to his name already this season, has nothing to prove back in North London, and the man himself is adamant that he does not want to be the focus of attention.

Bent said: "It's going to be strange, but I don't want the game to be about Darren Bent v Spurs, because it's so much more than that.

"It's about us - Sunderland - kicking on to the next level and hopefully pushing into Europe.

"I'm expecting a hostile reception, but that often happens when you return to a former club.

"But at the same time, I don't want people to turn the game into being all about me going back there.

"It would mean a lot for me to score, but it would mean everything if the team wins.

Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland

Last modified 09:51 09/11/09

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This time last year Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes was very much the weakest link as the club struggled to get their season off the ground.

The former PSV stopper was widely regarded as a stumbling butterfingers who was certain, at some point, to be replaced with Portsmouth keeper David James, with whom Harry Redknapp lifted the FA Cup.

Indeed, next week marks the anniversary of the Fulham game in which Gomes gifted Roy Hodgson's men victory with a couple of gaffes that were fast becoming his trademark.

Fast forward 12 months, however, and the big Brazilian is a model of consistency. So much so that Redknapp moved to quash talk of James' arrival in the hours after this compelling contest.

Redknapp said: "I like Jamo and still think he's a great keeper but it wasn't on the agenda really. At the back end of last season he (Gomes) was in great form and he's carried that on for sure. I mean Gomes isn't going anywhere is he?

"Early on I thought he'd been a great keeper on the continent but maybe he's not for England. The crowd slaughtered him (after the Fulham game). He was having a bad time. Everyone must have had doubts.

"But his reputation was top class, Guus Hiddink thought he was world class and everyone who has worked with him in Holland thought that. He's shown that now and he really does look a fantastic goalkeeper.

"He's big and he looks right up there with the best keepers in the Premier League. He's pulling off those special saves, that's for sure.

"He's put one or two over the bar, ones you would't expect him to save. He's a great lad as well. He does inspire a lot of confidence at the moment. He's very good.

"He's a lovely guy. He works well with Tony Parks (Tottenham's goalkeeping coach) and I think Carlo Cudicini coming here to give him competition was good for him.

"It pushed him a bit and they have helped each other. But as I say Tony Parks has been great for him. That was a great signing for us to get an English goalkeeper to work with the lad who has come from abroad to play here."

The reason for the tributes was simple. Gomes was the outstanding performer in this match, pulling off stunning stops from Michael Turner, Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson.

He was also the hero when hopeless referee Kevin Friend  awarded a Sunderland penalty for what seemed like a dive by Darren Bent.

To be fair, it wasn't Bent's fault that Friend couldn't tell the difference between what was a spot-kick - when the striker got to the ball first ten minutes before half-time and was pulled down by Gomes - and what wasn't, when the referee did point to the spot on 52 minutes.

But Gomes simply stood big and tall and managed to worry Bent out of scoring on his return to White Hart Lane.

Gomes said afterwards: "I've known him for a long time. He scored against me when I was at PSV, so I know him. I was shown his last 10 penalties and normally he goes to my right, his left, but I just waited for his decision.

"When he went to the ball, I thought he would go to the other side. You have to be calm and wait for the decision of the striker."

The debates raged into the night as to whether or not Bent dived - with Steve Bruce adamant that Gomes should have been sent off - until Match of the Day conclusively proved on Saturday night that Bent had indeed been going down before the Spurs keeper had touched him.

Gomes added: "I didn't think I would get sent off because I didn't think it was a penalty. He kicked me after lifting his legs. When I saw the saw the ball was going out I pulled my arm back. The ball went the other way to the goal.

"I think I am in my best form now. When I came here it was difficult because I was injured for a long time but I kept going and tried to help everyone. I am okay now, I'm fit, and that is why I am in my best moment here."

Ex-Chelsea keeper Cudicini had a spell in goal for seven out of eight games earlier in this season after Gomes' injury at Hull. But the No.1 returned for the away win at Portsmouth and has never looked back.

He added: "It was a difficult situation for me last year and I think some people were hard against me. This was difficult but I did not worry, I kept going and tried to put my best on the pitch. I don't have to show my best to anyone but myself, the supporters and the manager and friends.

"My family and God helped me all the time. I knew my quality, that is why I am here. They did not sign me because I am a bad goalkeeper. They know I am a good goalkeeper. I pay back their confidence and enjoy playing for Spurs. I enjoy playing in England because I think it is the best league in the world. I'm very happy to be here."

The devout Catholic added: "Religion is very important to me. I think this helps me, he helps me and my family so much. Sometimes I speak with them, they support me a lot. That is most important."

Bruce was quick to support Bent after an uncharacteristically bad day at the office and hopefully Fabio Capello, sitting in the stands to watch Bent's return, will not judge the marksman on this showing.

Hopefully the Italian will remember the goals he has already scored this season against Chelsea, Manchester United and LIverpool and judge him on those.

Because it will be a real shame if the former Charlton front man's striking talents are not given a bigger stage. In many ways, Saturday's miss was a lesson for Bent in handling the pressure of grabbing the big goals when the heat is on.

The Tottenham fans behind the goal did him no favours and Bent himself - according to at least one member of the Sunderland coaching staff - changed his mind about the direction in which he wanted to put the penalty.

It proved to be the turning point of the match. Robbie Keane had already put Spurs ahead with his fifth goal in six games against Sunderland.

But Steve Bruce's men were much the better side and would have won had they taken their chances.

To rub salt in the would for the Black Cats, keeper Craig Gordon was taken to hospital after the match following an accidental collision with Jermain Defoe and will be out for several weeks with a fractured arm.

But Bruce maintained afterwards that if his men continue to produce performances like this then they will be fine. He said: "We've got Arsenal next week and have played Liverpool and Manchester United and for me the level of performance was terrific.

"If we keep that up, remember we've gone to White Hart Lane and United and done really well, we'll be fine. The way we moved the ball and passed it was great.

"Andy Reid was excellent. Keiran as well. The only question mark is we've created 5 or 6 chances against Villa and against West Ham, and here today. You have to be a bit more clinical in the Premier League. We have to improve there.

Tottenham: Gomes 9, King 6 (Dawson 7,60), Assou-Ekotto 7, Corluka 4,Woodgate 7, Jenas 6, Huddlestone 8, Palacios 8, Keane 7 (Kranjcar ,63,7), Crouch 7, Defoe 7

Sunderland: Gordon 5 (Fulop 6,67 ),Turner 6, Bardsley 7 (Ferdinand 78,5 ), Da Silva 6, McCartney 6, Richardson 7, Henderson 7, Malbranque 7 (David Healy 77, 5), Reid 7, Bent 7, Campbell 6.