Van der Vaart still a doubt for Spurs

Rafael van der Vaart remains a major doubt for Tottenham’s Barclays Premier League game against Sunderland tomorrow with a hamstring injury.

Midfielder Van der Vaart is still nursing the problem that kept him out of Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Bolton, while defender William Gallas also picked up a knock at the Reebok Stadium and was due to be assessed today.

Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane are struggling with respective hamstring and ankle injuries, while captain Ledley King (groin) is still out, and Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are long-term absentees.

Provisional squad: Gomes, Cudicini, Hutton, Corluka, Bale, Gallas, Bassong, Kaboul, Jenas, Sandro, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Palacios, Kranjcar, Bentley, Modric, Dos Santos, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko, Pletikosa.