Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that striker Roberto Soldado will not feature this Saturday, as Spurs travel north to Sunderland. 

The Spaniard, a £27 million signing from Valencia last year, has played just 10 minutes in the Premier League so far and struggled to dislodge fellow strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane from Pochettino’s first eleven.

Soldado, suffering from a neck injury, struggled to hit the ground running last term and fresh injury concerns don’t help a striker trying to find his feet.

Another who won’t make the trip to the North East is full back Kyle Walker. The England international has been suffering with an abdomen injury since April, an injury that kept him out of this summers World Cup in Brazil.

The ex-Sheffield United man has had a further operation in recent weeks and may be unavailable for selection for some time. Fellow full back Danny Rose is expected to be fit after limping out of Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. 

Stand in full back Eric Dier, signed in the summer from Sporting Lisbon, has also recovered from a knock and will be available, expected to continue in a right back role. Dier, a new favourite amongst Spurs fans after two goals in his first three appearances, was forced to pull out of the England U21 squad last week.

New signings Federico Fazio and Benjamin Stambouli may well feature, as Pochettino admits he is happy with how the pair have adapted to life in England:

“Federico and Benji are very good players, they have to adapt to a new club and we’re happy with how they’re adapting.”

Fazio, a £10 million signing from Europa League champions Sevilla, and Stambouli, a £4 million recruit from Ligue 1 club Montpellier, are both expected to start, as Pochettino looks to ring the changes following the Liverpool defeat.

Pochettino said of former Spur Gus Poyet’s men:

“It will be a tough game against Sunderland and we will need to be ready and focused. It’s important to get a good result.”
 

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