Team News: Mousa Dembele makes first Tottenham start since December in Sunderland clash

Mousa Dembele has been handed his first start for Tottenham Hotspur since December for this afternoon's Premier League clash against Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

Dembele has been out of action since December 28 with injury, but is one of three new faces to the team that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City in midweek.

Ben Davies, Tom Carroll and Kyle Walker, who is not in the matchday squad, make way for Dembele, Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose.

As expected, Harry Kane leads the line, with Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli all providing assistance to the frontman.

As for Sunderland, two changes have been made to the team that grabbed a 4-2 victory over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium in midweek.

Jordan Pickford makes his Premier League debut in goal, while Danny Graham has been thrown up front to support Jermain Defoe, who scored a hat-trick against the Swans.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Alli; Kane Subs: Vorm, Davies, Wimmer, Carroll, Chadli, Onomah, Son

Sunderland: Pickford; Jones, O'Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, M'Vila; Johnson, Lens; Graham, Defoe Subs: Rodwell, Borini, Coates, Fletcher, Kirchhoff, Watmore, Mannone

Follow Sports Mole's live text commentary of the game here.