Lennon close to Spurs return
Posted Saturday, November 07, 2009 by PA
Aaron Lennon could return for Tottenham from an ankle injury for their Barclays Premier League match against Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
The England winger picked up the problem in the loss against Stoke a fortnight ago and was expected to be missing, but manager Harry Redknapp has now given him a "50/50 chance" of featuring.
Playmaker Luka Modric is still recovering from a fractured fibula and is absent, while defender Sebastien Bassong's hamstring injury will keep him sidelined for another couple of weeks.
Striker Jermain Defoe is available again after serving a three-match suspension.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce faces a major selection headache.
Striker Kenwyne Jones is suspended after being sent off during last weekend's 2-2 draw with West Ham, while skipper Lorik Cana, who picked up his fifth booking of the season in the same game, also misses out.
Frontman Fraizer Campbell is expected to shake off a thigh problem, but Cana's absence is a real blow with Lee Cattermole (medial ligaments) also sidelined.
John Mensah (calf) and Bolo Zenden (hip) are again likely to be missing, and youngsters David Meyler and Adam Reed are included in the squad.
Darren Bent will not allow his return to Tottenham to overshadow Sunderland's search for three more points.
The #10million striker heads back to White Hart Lane for the first time since the Black Cats brought his miserable spell there to an end with a summer swoop.
Manager Steve Bruce has insisted the 25-year-old, who has eight goals to his name already this season, has nothing to prove back in North London, and the man himself is adamant that he does not want to be the focus of attention.
Bent said: "It's going to be strange, but I don't want the game to be about Darren Bent v Spurs, because it's so much more than that.
"It's about us - Sunderland - kicking on to the next level and hopefully pushing into Europe.
"I'm expecting a hostile reception, but that often happens when you return to a former club.
"But at the same time, I don't want people to turn the game into being all about me going back there.
"It would mean a lot for me to score, but it would mean everything if the team wins.
"If the team wins and I don't score, I will be the happiest man alive. But if I score and we don't win, I will be devastated."
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