Team News: Jermain Defoe preferred to Roberto Soldado for Sunderland trip

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has left Roberto Soldado on the bench for this evening's Premier League clash at Sunderland.

The Spaniard was dropped ahead of Wednesday's 2-1 win at Fulham after scoring just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

Jermain Defoe keeps his place in attack, playing in front of Aaron Lennon, Lewis Holtby and Nacer Chadli.

Etienne Capoue starts at centre-half, with Kyle Naughton at left-back. There is no place in Tottenham's 18-man squad for Jan Vertonghen, who has an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have made four changes following their 4-3 loss to Chelsea in midweek.

Adam Johnson, Steven Fletcher, Seb Larsson and Ondrej Celustka all return to the Black Cats' starting XI.

Sunderland: Mannone, Bardsley, Celustka, O'Shea, Brown, Ki, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Fletcher, Altidore. Subs: Dossena, Gardner, Pickford, Diakite, Giaccherini, Borini, Cattermole.

Spurs: Lloris, Walker, Capoue, Dawson, Naughton, Dembele, Paulinho, Lennon, Holtby, Chadli, Defoe. Subs: Friedel, Fryers, Lamela, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Soldado.