Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a timely lift ahead of their clash with Sunderland, with Pape Matar Sarr spotted back in training alongside the squad, wearing what appeared to be a shoulder support.
The Senegal international joined up with his national team earlier this month and featured briefly in their 2-0 friendly win over Peru, coming on for the final 10 minutes. However, after picking up a shoulder knock, the 23-year-old missed the second fixture against Gambia, which Senegal won 3-1.
Spurs have endured a difficult campaign on the injury front, with key attackers Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison yet to feature this season. Club captain Ben Davies is also ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, while Mohammed Kudus faces uncertainty over his expected April return following a fresh setback.
The north London side have struggled in the league, winning just seven of their 31 matches and sitting 17th, only a point above the relegation zone. Managerial instability has also played a role, with Thomas Frank dismissed in February and Igor Tudor departing after a short spell without a Premier League victory.
Tottenham’s last five league finishes:
2024–25 – 17th
2023–24 – 5th
2022–23 – 8th
2021–22 – 4th
2020–21 – 7th
Up next, Spurs travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, in what will be Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge.
With midfield options limited due to injuries to Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, Sarr’s return to training comes as a welcome boost. Images shared by the club showed the midfielder back on the pitch and sprinting ahead of Sunday’s fixture.
With six games remaining to avoid relegation for the first time since 1977, Sarr’s availability could prove crucial as Tottenham look to remain competitive.
The midfielder has made 22 Premier League appearances this season, scoring twice and providing three assists, while also attracting reported interest from Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Since arriving from Metz in 2021, Sarr has developed into an important player for Spurs, playing a key role in last season’s Europa League final triumph. He remains under contract until 2030.
