Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has challenged his squad players to step up to the mark as he attempts to cope with a major selection headache.

Bruce will be without suspended duo Kenwyne Jones and Lorik Cana for Saturday's Premier League trip to Tottenham, while John Mensah and Bolo Zenden, as well as long-term absentee Lee Cattermole, are likely to miss out through injury.

Fraizer Campbell, who like leading scorer Darren Bent had a spell at Spurs earlier in his career, could partner the older man in attack, but the manager has big decisions to take over his central midfield.

Bruce said: "I would love Kenwyne and I would love Cattermole and I would love Cana to be fit to go to play Tottenham, or not suspended.

"We have got to November and unfortunately, we are missing the three of them, and I hope we can cope.

"I hope one of the people who comes in can go and do something like Andy Reid did against Norwich a few weeks ago.

"That's the challenge we have set to the people who have come into the squad.

"Certainly, though, I would love to be going to Tottenham with a full squad to choose from. But that's the way it is."