SUNDERLAND captain Lorik Cana has promised to be there for his team-mates at White Hart Lane on Saturday, even if he will be unable to lead them from the pitch.

The Albanian is, along with Kenwyne Jones, suspended for a trip to North London which will be as much a test of the Black Cats’ mettle as their ability.

They showed real grit to come from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw with West Ham United at the weekend, despite losing Jones to what Cana felt was a a harsh red card on the stroke of half-time. Cana can consider himself fortunate not to have been dismissed too after a succession of fouls, the first of which brought his fifth caution this season and a ban.

“I’m most disappointed because I’m going to leave my team, but I’m going to be there with them (against Tottenham),” he promised. “I’m going to travel to London. I want to be with them before the game to help in any way I can. I think it’s important.”

What was already threatening to be a difficult game will now be even tougher. Cana’s ban exacerbates the injury to central midfield partner Lee Cattermole, while Jones’ dismissal came in a match back-up striker Fraizer Campbell missed with a hamstring strain.

Afterwards Cana criticised referee Andre Marriner for both cards, particularly Jones’ for a petulant reaction to a Herita Ilunga foul which saw him grab the defender by the throat and throw him rather too easily to the ground.

“The referee told me to be careful because if I made another dangerous tackle he would have to give me another yellow card,” Cana revealed.

“Sometimes it’s down to communication and we can find a solution together. I thought it was wrong to give me a yellow card for the first tackle. It was a foul, not a booking. I didn’t mean to injure my opponent.”