Premier League preview: Sunderland v Tottenham

<![CDATA[With Spurs in fifth and Sunderland in seventh, both clubs will no doubt have aspirations of playing in Europe next season, with in the Champions League or the Europa League.

Spurs got their first taste of Champions League football this season, and with Harry Redknapp’s side even on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, every game is vital to ensuring top-tier European football returns to White Hart Lane next season.

“Everyone at the club has had the chance to experience exactly what it means to be part of the Champions League,” said Spurs goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

“We’re all giving 100 per cent and more to try and finish fourth because we all want to be in the Champions League again next season as well.”

“This season is harder because Manchester City are doing better than last season, but we’re up there, we love the challenge and we’ll be up there at the end of the season.”

Spurs quest for the Champions League continues when they travel to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side which has lost its last two matches.

Spurs themselves are unbeaten in four games, but will travel north without injured midfielders Rafael van der Vaart (calf), Luka Modric (appendix) and Gareth Bale (back), while striker Peter Crouch is also in doubt.

Steve Bruce has injury concerns of his own, with striker Danny Welbeck, captain Lee Cattermole and defender Michael Turner all sidelined.

The Black Cats have conceded seven goals in their last two matches, including two late strikes from Robert Huth which gave Stoke a 3-2 win last weekend.

But on-loan defender Nedum Onuoha believes Saturday’s match is a chance to redeem themselves in front of their home fans.

“Saturday’s game is a big one because we’ve lost the last two,” Onuoha told the club’s official website.

“People will be looking at us to win at home and to do that we’re going to have to be right on top of our game.”

“We’re still definitely in a good position in the league. If someone had offered us this at the beginning of the season we’d definitely have taken it. It’s a good foundation to push on from.”

“Spurs have been very good this season. They’ve dropped points at times but then again they have gone to tough places like the Emirates and got a result from 2-0 down.”

“You can never write them off. They’re still competing for the title at this stage of the season which says a lot about them and their ambition.”