Tottenham v Sunderland - THE VERDICT
Robbed of the services of three key men tomorrow, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will find out exactly how much he has in reserve when he takes his side to Tottenham Hotspur.
When the Black Cats were flying in the opening couple of months of the campaign, it was hard to see that success being achieved without the iron grip of midfield duo Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole.
Yet Bruce will send a Sunderland side out without both men for the first time under his charge in the Barclays Premier League.
The Wearsiders fragility in the last two seasons had been based around a general lack of leadership and a very definite lack of muscle.
If you were going to sum up Bruce's transfer policy since getting down to work at the Stadium of Light in the summer, you would have to say his focus has been on bringing real men to the club – players with grit and a bit of bite about them.
For all the talent in his squad; does it have players who can replicate the sort of performances Cana and Cattermole are capable of?
Jordan Henderson has made a very bright start to his senior career and was excellent in the back-to-back home games with Aston Villa and West Ham.
But he would be the first to admit that, for all his energy and talent, he is still learning about the physical demands of life in central midfield.
The other options are Kieran Richardson and, if fit, Bolo Zenden, but both are technical players rather than enforcers.
Games are usually won or lost in midfield and in Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone Spurs would appear to have an advantage in that area.
Bruce's other absentee of course is the suspended Kenwyne Jones. His place looks set to go to Fraizer Campbell, but it will be interesting to see where the former Spurs loanee ends up playing.
Given their lack of physicality in midfield, will Sunderland line up with five across the middle in an effort to close the spaces? That could mean Campbell operating wide on the right and working to stay in touch with Darren Bent.
You know what you'll get from Campbell because he's always a willing runner and looks well suited to such a supporting role for the lone striker.
All eyes will be on Bent on his return to White Hart Lane after the summer's tense transfer dealings between Sunderland and Spurs before he finally completed his move north.
The Tottenham faithful will probably give him a hostile reception after he made it very clear he wanted out of Spurs, but if he wants to ram Harry Redknapp's "my missus could've scored it" jibe back down his old boss's neck, then what a great opportunity.
Sunderland have risen to the big challenges this season but, for me, this is an even bigger test than Manchester United away and Liverpool at home – games they performed so well in.
That's purely down to the men the visitors will be without, but there are signs of a great spirit in the camp and I hope it shines through tomorrow.
Prediction: Spurs win.
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Weather for Sunderland
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
