Sunderland Echo

West Ham face a defensive headache after a £17m centre-back suffered a serious injury in the FA Cup

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West Ham United could be forced to cope without Konstantinos Mavropanos for their upcoming Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland after the defender suffered a worrying injury in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo was dealt a setback during West Ham’s tie with Queens Park Rangers, when one of his preferred centre-backs was forced off midway through the first half. Mavropanos, who has worked his way into the starting line-up in recent weeks, was stretchered off following a heavy collision inside the QPR penalty area.

The 28-year-old had started West Ham’s recent league matches against Wolves and Nottingham Forest and was again selected from the outset at Loftus Road, with Nuno opting for a back three alongside Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo. However, shortly before half-time, Mavropanos went up to challenge for a corner and appeared to clash heads with a QPR defender’s knee.

Play was halted for several minutes as medical staff attended to the Greece international, before he was eventually taken from the pitch on a stretcher and driven off in a medical buggy. Supporters from both sides applauded as he left the field, with the incident immediately raising concerns over a potential head injury. While the full extent of the problem is still to be confirmed, concussion protocols mean Mavropanos is likely to face a mandatory period on the sidelines. That would rule him out of West Ham’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend, and also place his availability in doubt for Sunderland’s visit to the London Stadium on January 24.

Any absence would come as a blow for Nuno, who has frequently relied on a three-centre-back system since taking charge. West Ham have already struggled defensively this season, conceding 43 goals in the Premier League, and losing a regular starter would further complicate matters. It is not the first time Mavropanos has been sidelined this campaign. He previously missed league fixtures against Leeds United, Newcastle United, Burnley and AFC Bournemouth during October and November. West Ham signed the defender from VfB Stuttgart in 2023 for a reported £17million, and he has since gone on to make 83 appearances for the club.

What did Le Bris say after the Everton game?

Régis Le Bris has sought to ease fears surrounding Brian Brobbey’s fitness while confirming that Bertrand Traoré is a concern ahead of Crystal Palace’s trip to the Stadium of Light next weekend.

Brobbey was introduced for Eliezer Mayenda during the second half of Sunderland’s FA Cup third-round tie at Hill Dickinson Stadium, before being withdrawn at the interval of extra time as the Black Cats went on to beat Everton on penalties. Speaking after the game, Le Bris stressed that the decision to remove the striker was purely precautionary.

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Sunderland were able to call on Noah Sadiki for the full 120 minutes following his recent return from the Africa Cup of Nations, but Reinildo Mandava and Traoré were both absent from the squad. While Reinildo is expected to return to contention for next Saturday, Traoré has emerged as an early doubt, with the extent of his issue still unclear.

“We are not too worried about Brian because it was tightness in his hamstrings,” Le Bris said. “We have had this previously with him, so we didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. With Reinildo and Bertrand, we will see. Rei might be available next week, but Bertrand has come back with an injury that we will have to assess. It is an injury issue he has come back with, but we don’t really know any more than that yet.”

Sunderland will also be without Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi for the visit of Crystal Palace, after both Senegal and Morocco reached the AFCON semi-finals. The pair are set to feature either in the third-place play-off next Saturday or the final next Sunday, depending on results in the last four.

Sunderland supporters once again turned an away day into something memorable as the Black Cats took on Tottenham Hotspur in north London.

From early arrivals around the stadium to the final moments after the whistle, the away end was packed with colour, noise and belief. Despite a difficult opening period on the pitch, the backing never wavered, with travelling fans responding to every tackle, block and break forward as Sunderland grew into the game. When the equaliser arrived late on, the reaction was instant – limbs everywhere, flags raised and voices lifted in unison.

There was also a real sense of connection at full-time. Players made their way over to acknowledge the supporters who had made the journey, soaking in the applause after another gritty Premier League display on the road. It was a reminder of how closely this group and its fanbase have travelled together over the past two seasons.

These photos capture the moments you might have missed – the anticipation, the tension, the celebrations and the pride – as Sunderland fans once again made their presence felt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Courtesy of Chris Fryatt.

Brian Brobbey’s brilliant goal secured a point for Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

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Brian Brobbey says a simple half-time chat was key to Sunderland's spirited fightback at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

The Black Cats trailed1-0 at the break following a goal from Ben Davies, and in truth were probably fortunate to get to the interval just one down. Sunderland rallied impressively in the second half and scored a deserved equaliser when Brobbey thumped home an excellent finish on his weaker foot following a fine team move and 1-2 with Enzo Le Fée.

Brobbey says the team lacked energy in the first half and told each other at the interval that they needed to step up.

"It was frustrating in the first half, but in the second half we showed character," Brobbey said.

"Probably in the first half we didn't have a lot of energy after the Man City game, but when we went back in the dressing room we talked with each other we said that we needed to step up and that's what we did."

Brobbey's goal was his third of the campaign but just as significantly, Wilson Isidor'a absence with a minor injury meant it was the first time he had completed 90 minutes since joining from Ajax on deadline day. The striker said he was pleased with his progress and determined to keep going.

"It was a really good finish but also the build up play was really good, from the back first and then the 1-2 with Enzo," Brobbey said.

"Sometimes you just need one moment in a game and we were able to find each other. It was good to play 90 minutes, my first 90 minutes, I'm really happy with that and I just need to continue. I'm feeling stronger with every game, when you start playing most of the games you can start to connect with everyone. I'm feeling good. The Premier League is much tougher but it's OK, I'm getting used to it, and so now I just need to keep on going. I think it's best the league in the world and I'm enjoying it, for sure."

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Régis Le Bris on what changed for Sunderland at half time against Spurs

"We said, just switch on, do simple things well, because I think tactically we were OK," Le Bris said of Sunderland's half-time summit.

"It was just a question of being more composed with the ball, the ability to win the first contact, because they went direct, as expected, against our man-for-man press. And we didn't win the first contact, the second ball, so the balance of the game was like that. And we had the character and the quality to switch on, and I think it's positive."

Your next Sunderland read: Phil Smith’s Sunderland player ratings from Spurs fightback

Ex-Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio explains why the club’s size and intensity only hit him after arriving

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Former Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio has reflected on his move to Wearside, his memories of playing for the Black Cats, and the path his career has taken since leaving the Stadium of Light.

Tainio joined Sunderland in 2008 for a reported €3million (£2.6million), becoming the club’s first summer signing and the first Finnish player to represent the Black Cats. His arrival came after a difficult decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur, where opportunities had become limited.

“It was a huge disappointment to leave the club I had dreamt about playing for. When Juande Ramos came in, I knew my game time would be limited. I could have stayed at Spurs longer, sat on the bench. But I’m not that kind of guy… I wanted to be playing,” Tainio said. “Sunderland came in for me, and I travelled there to speak to Roy Keane, who was the head coach at the time. He really wanted to sign me, and as someone who had such a great playing career playing in the same position as me, that meant a lot.”

Tainio spent two seasons on Wearside, featuring during a challenging period for the club, but he retains a strong affection for Sunderland and its supporters. “We had a difficult first season when I was at Sunderland, but we were able to stay in the Premier League,” he said.

“Going there, I saw how big a club Sunderland is. I think people only appreciate just how big they are when they go there. As someone who grew up supporting Spurs, I knew how massive the north London derby was. But my word, Sunderland-Newcastle… what a massive rivalry there is between those two and games between them are intense to say the least!”

After leaving Sunderland in August 2010 by mutual consent, Tainio went on to have spells with Birmingham City, Ajax and later Major League Soccer, before turning his attention to life beyond playing. “After I retired from playing, I actually did a year of scouting work for Spurs,” he explained. “I travelled for the club mainly across Scandinavia, but also in other parts of Europe.

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“Then I started to coach. I started with youth teams. I then went back to one of my former clubs, FC Haka. They were struggling a bit, and I wanted to get them back to the top division in Finland. I became manager, and we were able to get the club promoted back to the top flight with a record-breaking season. I stayed for five years, and then it was time to try something new.”

His coaching career has since taken him across Europe and onto the international stage. “My former colleague (Toni Koskela) became a manager in Cyprus (with AEL Limassol), and he asked me if I wanted to become his assistant, and I said, ‘Why not!’ We were only there for about four months, unfortunately, as there were a lot of problems,” Tainio said. “After that, I spent some time with the Finland national team as an assistant. I was in that role when we played against England at Wembley in September 2024, and Harry Kane got his 100th England cap.”

Most recently, Tainio has been working in Estonia, while considering his next move in the game. “My most recent coaching job was in Estonia (with Tallinna Kalev). There has been some interest in me since, but I have wanted to calm things down and take a bit of time before taking my next coaching role.”

Sunderland drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

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Former Sunderland defenders Matthew Kilgallon and Wes Brown have heaped praise on the Black Cats following their impressive return to life in the Premier League.

A 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon leaves Regis Le Bris’ side eighth in the top flight table, four points off the top four, and having now played every other side in the division, the newly promoted club have earned positive results against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United, amongst others.

And taking all of their recent work into account, both Kilgallon and Brown have hailed Sunderland for their stellar efforts this term.

What have Matthew Kilgallon and Wes Brown said about Sunderland?

Speaking to Stadium Astro, when asked how impressed he had been with his former club of late, Kilgallon said: “Absolutely outstanding, and brilliant for the city as well. Football up there is absolutely massive and I’m so happy for them. I loved my time at Sunderland, it was great.

“Some of the football they are playing, and what they've made the Stadium of Light, they've made it a real place to go where people are struggling. They don't want to go there, do they? Some of the football they're playing is fantastic, the recruitment of the players they've brought in, I mean, they found some gems there, haven't they? And lads that have played in the Championship have stepped up into that Premier League, they're playing a great way.”

He added: “[Granit] Xhaka, what a signing he's been. I'm sure people thought, ‘Oh, is he too old, can he still do it?’. He has been absolutely brilliant for Sunderland in that centre mid and I think he's just set a standard and he's been a real leader on and off the pitch. I think all the lads are learning from him and have followed his ways, and they just look a real, real good team.”

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For his part, Brown agreed wholeheartedly with his fellow pundit, replying: “I think when they first started, obviously, when they got promoted beginning of this season, you're just hoping they get some points on the board and they go from there, but it is much bigger than that. The togetherness of the team, they've made it very difficult playing at home, and then they've took a step forward, where they're beating some of the bigger teams and the crowd’s behind them, and now they've got this momentum going.

“I think, like what Matt said, Xhaka has been massive, just controlling them all and making everything feel comfortable, and really digging in hard when it needs to be. But there's always been a spirit in Sunderland where if you work hard you get the reward, and they've definitely been doing that this season with some great quality as well. You're looking back at the first half of the season, and you've got to say, they've been the exceptional team of the season for me.”

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka reacts on social media after the draw with Tottenham in north London

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Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka sent a defiant message to supporters after the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, underlining the belief and momentum building within Régis Le Bris’ side.

Posting on Instagram in the hours after full-time, Xhaka shared a powerful action shot from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, showing him roaring in celebration in front of the away end, clad in Sunderland’s blue kit. Alongside the image, the Switzerland international wrote: “Keeping the unbeaten run going. #GX34” – a short but pointed message that quickly resonated with supporters.

The post attracted significant engagement, amassing more than 78,000 likes within the first 15 hours, with Sunderland fans and team-mates alike responding in the comments. Several Black Cats players publicly backed their captain, while supporters echoed Xhaka’s message of steady progress and resilience as Sunderland extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

Xhaka’s message came after another gritty display from Sunderland, who recovered from a difficult first half in north London to claim a deserved point. Tottenham had dominated the opening stages and went ahead through Ben Davies, leaving Sunderland under sustained pressure before the break. Le Bris’ side struggled to impose themselves early on and were forced to dig deep to stay within touching distance.

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The second half, however, saw a clear shift. Sunderland grew in confidence, tightened up defensively and began to pose more of a threat in transition. Enzo Le Fée struck the post as the visitors sensed an opportunity, while Tottenham became increasingly nervy protecting their narrow lead. The equaliser arrived with 10 minutes remaining when Brian Brobbey produced a decisive moment. After smart link-up play on the edge of the box, Brobbey smashed an emphatic finish past Guglielmo Vicario, sparking wild celebrations in the away end and visible frustration among the home crowd.

Xhaka was central throughout, leading by example in midfield and marshalling his team through a testing opening period before Sunderland’s revival. His post-match message reflected the collective mindset within the squad – calm, grounded, but quietly confident about the direction of travel. With Sunderland now sitting on 30 points after 20 Premier League games, the message from the captain carried added weight. Few would have predicted such a position at this stage of the season, particularly given the disruption caused by injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations.

What did Le Bris say after the game?

Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris admitted his side were fortunate to still be in the game at half-time, before praising their response in a hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur. The Black Cats struggled to gain control during a difficult first half and went in behind, but a much-improved second-half display was rewarded when Brian Brobbey struck late on to earn a point in north London.

Asked what he said to his players at the break, Le Bris was candid about Sunderland’s performance and the fine margins involved. “We had a lack of energy and just one needle down, it was possible to switch on, which probably we were a bit lucky because in a Premier League game, when you don't play at your best, you should be punished. And it wasn't the case, so we were still alive,” he said.

“And we said, just switch on, do simple things well, because I think tactically we were OK. It was just a question of being more composed with the ball, the ability to win the first contact, because they went direct, as expected, against our man-for-man press. And we didn't win the first contact, the second ball, so the balance of the game was like that. And we had the character and the quality to switch on, and I think it's positive.”

Le Bris’ tactical tweaks and substitutions proved decisive after the interval, with Sunderland gaining a foothold as Spurs’ early dominance faded. The head coach explained the thinking behind his changes, including the introduction of Dan Ballard, who had been managing an injury.

“Absolutely. It wasn't possible to play with Ballard in the first half because of his injury. We didn't want to rush the process,” Le Bris said. “I think in this game, especially when you go directly to Richarlison, once, twice but 20 times, I don't know how many, you need two strong centre-backs with a specific profile.”

Le Brs added after the game: “Nordi and Omar did well, but Ballard is a weapon in that case, so he helped. And Nordi, I think, was good on the right side as well, to deliver crosses and to use the big spaces. Finally, to deliver this key pass at the end.”

Here was everything you might have missed before, during and after Sunderland’s Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur

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Sunderland arrived in north London sitting seventh in the table on 29 points, firmly in the top-half conversation as the season moved beyond its halfway point. Tottenham, meanwhile, began the afternoon down in 13th on 26 points, knowing a home win would close the gap and pull them back towards the European places.

It made for an intriguing backdrop at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sunderland travelled south with confidence after another strong run of results, while Spurs were searching for consistency and momentum in front of their own supporters. From the early build-up and team news to the tactical battles on the pitch and the moments that unfolded away from the main action, there was plenty that went unnoticed as the night developed.

Here is a closer look at the moments you may have missed before kick-off, during the 90 minutes and after the final whistle:

Milestone game between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur

This fixture also marked a small but significant milestone in Sunderland’s history, with the senior side making their first-ever visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While Sunderland’s under-21s had previously played a cup final at the venue a couple of years earlier, this was the first time the club’s first team had taken to the pitch in N17. It added another chapter to a long and well-established rivalry between the two clubs, stretching back well over a century.

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Heading into the night, the historical numbers slightly favoured Spurs. Across all competitions, Sunderland had won 38 meetings with Tottenham, drawn 31 and lost 50, with the first encounter between the sides coming in the FA Cup back in February 1899. That long-running relationship had spanned league battles, cup ties and contrasting eras for both clubs. This meeting, though, felt very much of the present. A modern stadium, two sides separated by just three points in the Premier League table.

Granit Xhaka faces familiar foe after Arsenal days

There was also extra attention on Granit Xhaka, who returned to north London facing familiar opposition after his years with Arsenal. Having been a central figure in Arsenal’s rivalry with Tottenham, the Sunderland captain cut a recognisable figure from the opening whistle, marshalling those around him and embracing the edge that comes with the fixture.

Every touch was greeted with noise from the stands, underlining the spotlight on a player who knows this ground and this opponent better than most in the Sunderland squad. Xhaka’s presence added another layer to the occasion, bringing experience of high-pressure north London encounters into a Sunderland side still writing its own Premier League story.

Sunderland handed double injury boost before Tottenham game

Sunderland were handed a timely injury boost ahead of the trip to Tottenham, with Régis Le Bris able to welcome Dan Ballard back into the matchday squad.

Ballard had missed the previous two Premier League fixtures with an ankle issue, but scans showed no significant damage, and the centre-back made sufficient progress to return. With Sunderland’s squad stretched by a number of absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations, his availability came as a major lift during the most demanding spell of the season so far.

There was further encouragement for the Black Cats with Brian Brobbey deemed fit enough to keep his place in the starting XI. The striker had been withdrawn in the second half against Manchester City after feeling some muscle discomfort, though Le Bris had played down any injury concerns post-match, and those fears proved unfounded. As a result, Le Bris opted to name an unchanged side to face Tottenham Hotspur, though Wilson Isidor was a surprise omission from the squad with what Le Bris described as a minor injury.

Dennis Cirkin starts against former club in the Premier League

There was a familiar subplot involving Dennis Cirkin, who lined up against his former club Tottenham Hotspur. Cirkin came through the Spurs academy before joining Sunderland in 2021 and has since featured for the club in League One, the Championship and now the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a return to north London on several occasions since leaving Spurs, though a move has never materialised. His long-term future remains a talking point, with Cirkin currently out of contract at Sunderland at the end of the season. Former Tottenham player Romaine Mundle was also on the bench for the Black Cats and replaced Cirkin in the second half with Le Bris’ side chasing the game.

Xhaka moment plus Mukiele and Alderete injury scares

Sunderland made a difficult start to the game and found themselves 1-0 down at half-time after a poor first-half by Le Bris’ men. After just two minutes, Nordi Mukiele was left nursing an early injury issue following a awkward fall, prompting early concern among the travelling Sunderland supporters. After brief treatment, the defender was able to continue.

Around 20 minutes in, Granit Xhaka slipped slightly as he moved across to take a corner, drawing a loud reaction from the Spurs crowd behind the goal. The Sunderland skipper appeared to take it in good humour, sharing a quick smile with supporters at that end. Three minutes later, with Tottenham pressing once again, there were further nerves in the away end as Omar Alderete went down holding his head. Play was halted, but after treatment the centre-back was able to carry on.

Le Bris tinkers during second half as Brobbey goes mad

Sunderland continued to chase the game in a disjointed second half, with Le Bris forced into several adjustments as the match wore on. Just after the hour mark, Le Bris made his first change, with Romaine Mundle introduced in place of Cirkin. The reshuffle saw Hume switch across to left-back, while Geertruida dropped into right-back.

Six minutes later, further changes followed as Adingra made way for Ballard, who slotted in at centre-back, with Nordi Mukiele shifting out to right-back and Geertruida pushed forward into midfield – another example of Le Bris tinkering in search of control. With 15 minutes remaining, tensions briefly rose when Brobbey clashed off the ball with Pedro Porro. Brobbey looked frustrated and was perhaps fortunate to escape a booking after his arm strayed close to his opponent’s face.

However, it was Brobbey who smashed home Sunderland’s equaliser with 10 minutes remaining. The Dutch striker celebrated with real gusto in front of the Spurs supporters behind the goal, a reaction that drew clear annoyance from the home crowd as Sunderland hauled themselves level late on. Chris Rigg replaced Mayenda after the goal.

Tensions flare after full-time whistle

There were brief tensions after the final whistle as tempers flared between the two sides. Geertrudia was involved in an exchange with Guglielmo Vicario, but the situation was quickly calmed without further incident. Tottenham were booed off by sections of the home crowd at full-time.

Sunderland’s travelling supporters once again made their presence felt as the Black Cats earned a hard-fought point away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

From well before kick-off, the away end was in full voice, with red and white shirts dotted across the stands and flags held high as fans soaked up another Premier League night on the road. Despite a difficult opening to the game, the noise never dropped, with Sunderland followers urging the side on through a challenging first half and responding in kind as the performance improved after the break.

The equaliser sparked wild celebrations in the away section, with limbs everywhere as supporters celebrated a moment that felt fully deserved after the team’s second-half response. Long after the final whistle, Régis Le Bris’ players made their way over to applaud those who had travelled south, acknowledging the backing that continues to follow them home and away.

From pre-match scenes outside the ground to the final exchanges at full-time, these photos capture the colour, emotion and pride of Sunderland supporters in north London – another reminder of the connection between team and fans during an impressive Premier League campaign. Photos courtesy of Chris Fryatt.

Sunderland battled their way to a 1-1 draw at Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

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Sunderland stretched their impressive recent form to just one defeat in their last eight games with a hard-earned draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

The Black Cats appeared to be on their way to what would have been a rare defeat after Micky van de Ven fired Spurs in front on the half-hour mark and their advantage remained in place until the final ten minutes of the game. However, with nerves visible amongst the home faithful, Regis Le Bris’ side started to put their hosts under pressure and they got their rewards when Brian Brobbey crashed home a stunning equaliser as the former Ajax man rounded off a neat passing move.

The draw means Sunderland have lost just four of their 20 league games since they returned to the Premier League with a dramatic Championship play-off final win against Sheffield United in May - and there are high hopes Le Bris and his players can continue what would be viewed as an unlikely push for European competition during the final five months of the season.

As it stands following the draw in North London, Sunderland are sitting in eighth place in the table and are now just four points shy of the top four as they now focus their attention on Wednesday night’s return to the capital as they face Brentford. But where are Sunderland predicted to finish in this season’s Premier League and is a push for Europe a realistic possibility? We take a look at a predicted final table pieced together by the stats experts at Opta.

Opta’s latest predicted final Premier League table

What did Regis Le Bris say about Spurs 1-1 Sunderland?

Speaking after Sunday afternoon’s draw, the Black Cats boss: “We had a lack of energy and just one needle down, it was possible to switch on, which probably we were a bit lucky because in a Premier League game, when you don't play at your best, you should be punished. And it wasn't the case, so we were still alive.

“And we said, just switch on, do simple things well, because I think tactically we were OK. It was just a question of being more composed with the ball, the ability to win the first contact, because they went direct, as expected, against our man-for-man press. And we didn't win the first contact, the second ball, so the balance of the game was like that. And we had the character and the quality to switch on, and I think it's positive.”

Sunderland were back in Premier League action as they faced Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

Ben Davies scored in the first half to give Spurs a deserved lead, but the visitors battled back well and equalised thanks to a brilliant effort from Brian Brobbey. Here’s how we rated all the Black Cats involved on the day...