Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Sunderland

Tottenham v Sunderland: Preview

Updated: August 22, 2008, 4:23 PM UK

Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton will miss the Premier League clash against Sunderland as he recovers from a stress fracture of his right foot.

Midfielder Jamie O'Hara is back in full training after a neck complaint, while Tom Huddlestone has been struggling with an ankle injury.

Head coach Juande Ramos will talk to Dimitar Berbatov, who has handed in a transfer request, before deciding whether the striker will play.

Zenit St Petersburg are understood to have lowered their asking price for Andrei Arshavin just days after claiming to have closed the door on a deal to Tottenham.

Spurs are currently concentrating on other targets in their pursuit of a forward after initially being told the Russian would cost them upwards of £20million.

Zenit lowered Arshavin's price a week ago, then set a new figure just days after releasing a statement insisting Spurs' deadline for bidding had passed.

Zenit boss Dick Advocaat, who is thought to want the funds to buy players himself, does not expect Arshavin to feature in next week's UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United.

The Dutchman feels Spurs will resurrect their interest in Arshavin, although the Premier League club are looking for an out-an-out striker.

"We don't need to sell (other) players,'' Advocaat told Bloomberg.

"Last year we sold Martin Skrtel to Liverpool for £10million, and now probably Arshavin will go to Spurs.''

Spurs are in the market for a striker after Robbie Keane left for Liverpool and Berbatov submitted a formal transfer request as he wants to join Manchester United.

Berbatov was training with Spurs as normal ahead of the clash against Sunderland, where he is expected to face a hostile reception from fans at White Hart Lane.

Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio will miss the trip to his former club because of a muscle strain.

New signings Djibril Cisse and David Healy are in the squad for the game at White Hart Lane, but Cisse will require international clearance if he is to make his debut after joining from Marseille.

Dwight Yorke, Kenwyne Jones and young striker Martyn Waghorn are also injured.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane believes the Black Cats are ready to sink their teeth into the Barclays Premier League after signing former Liverpool striker Cisse.

Cisse is set to make his debut against Tottenham after completing a season-long loan deal from Marseille to the Sunderland.

And Keane reckons his team lacked punch against Liverpool in their Premier League opener last weekend despite an encouraging display.

But after bringing in Cisse and Healy, another striker, Keane is confident his side will give Spurs tough test in the final third at White Hart Lane.

"With Kenwyne Jones being injured, we did lack some physical presence up front,'' Keane said.

"We're delighted with the two signings, we needed more strength up there and they will give us it.

"The [Cisse] loan deal is a good for both parties. For us, to look at him with an option to buy him; and for him, to come and show what he is all about.''

Keane, who has signed eight players this summer, is targeting another two before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

He continued: "I spoke to a player last night and he has agreed to come in principle.

"There are just one or two things to be ironed out, and there's one other position I'd like to strengthen before I'm finished.''

Sunderland lost 14 of their 19 away games in the Premier League last season and had to rely on their home form to keep them up. But Keane thinks it will be a different story this season.

"Our away form has to get better - it can't get much worse,'' he explained.

"With our away form last year, I'm pretty sure Tottenham are looking forward to us coming to London, but hopefully we can improve.

"Last year is history, it's a new season and a new challenge. We gave away two shocking goals [at Tottenham] last year and we know we can't make the same mistakes again, against any team.

"The players I have brought in have got experience of playing in the Premier League and we lacked that last year.

"It's not always about getting victories, it's about being able to get draws as well.

"A lot of the time last season we had decent possession and good opportunities but we gave away silly goals, Tottenham was a prime example.''