Sunderland take on Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light this afternoon as they aim to move the visiting side even closer to the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Regis Le Bris’ side come into this game on the back of a Tyne-Wear derby victory over local rivals Newcastle United, which will undoubtedly boost their confidence.

The Black Cats will be hoping to pick up three more important points later today and still have a solid chance of finishing in the top half by the end of May.

However, if they do end up beating the Lilywhites at home this afternoon, the manager will have a number of decisions to make about who to include in his starting eleven.

To face Roberto De Zerbi’s side, they will have to remove one player from their starting eleven, especially if they are to win back-to-back Premier League games.

Why did Sadiki have to be taken off against Tottenham?

In the recent Derby Day win, Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki was given a starting spot at the team’s base, but was one of the few players to struggle against the Magpies.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international played the entire contest at St James’s Park, but his underlying numbers highlight how disappointing he was throughout the win.

He recorded only 27 touches on the ball during the match, the fewest of any player on either team, showing that he did not have a positive impact on the progress of the match.

Sadiki also completed just 12 passes, a success rate of just 74%, and the midfielder was unable to give the players in front of him the chances they needed.

He also completed just 33% of his attempted dribbles and lost the ball eight times, further highlighting his disappointing performance.

Without the ball, the 21-year-old was similarly helpless, winning only 40% of the ground battles he took part in, but he also earned bookings.

Who should replace Sadiki against Spurs?

There is no doubt that Sadiki is a great addition for the Black Cats this season, but Le Bris may have to shuffle his pack for this afternoon’s matchup.

The international break will give the team some much-needed rest, but it will also allow the manager to work closely with the group of players again.

There is also a possibility that they will switch to a slightly different system against Spurs, in which case Khabib Diarra could drop into a slightly deeper midfield position at the expense of Sadiki.

As a result, a position in number 10 will become vacant and Le Bris will need to unleash Enzo Le Fe once again, given his long-standing influence in the aforementioned role.

The Frenchman, who joined last summer for £20m, has been in excellent form throughout this season, scoring eight goals and assisting in total.

However, he was on the bench in the win over Newcastle before the suspension, and only took to the pitch one minute before the final whistle.

The manager should consider recalling him to the side for today’s game, and the 26-year-old has the talent to inflict further pain on the visitors at the Stadium of Light.

This season he has created 1.4 chances per 90 so far with a crossing accuracy rate of 27%, the latter of which ranks him in the top 20% of the division.

Such talent is similar to that of former loanee Amad Diallo, with the Ivorian able to cause constant carnage for the Black Cats during his loan spell in the 2022/23 season.

Le Fey has also confirmed his talent in possession, completing 82% of his passes to date, with 4.2 completed passes into the final third per 90.

But without the ball, the Frenchman was just as impressive, winning 4.2 duels and making 2.7 tackles in 90 games, ranking him in the top 7% of attackers in the league.

His ability to win the ball back could be crucial in a fixture like this afternoon, as De Zerbi’s side desperately need results to avoid relegation.

Sadiki’s release may be controversial for many fans, but the change may ultimately be necessary if Le Bris’ side are to win more Premier League titles.

Le Fee’s all-round qualities could make him a huge asset for the Black Cats, especially given the level he has proven so far in the top flight this season.