David Moyes has revealed full-back Patrick Van Aanholt was a late withdrawal from Sunderland’s game at Tottenham on advice from the Football Association.

The FA acted due to the results of a standard cardiology scan completed by the 26-year-old Dutchman. The results were given to Sunderland just 40 minutes prior to kick-off at White Hart Lane and they were advised not to play him by the FA.

The club then pulled the player out of their intended starting line-up for the 1-0 defeat. “All we can say is the player has done some standard tests with a cardiologist and those tests meant that the FA had to check them [the test results],” said the Sunderland boss.

“They gave us the results at 10 to 4 when the player was warming up and we had to make a decision on the spot.” While Moyes explained that the player’s best interests were the sole deciding factor in the immediate decision to leave him out, the Scot has called into question the timing of the FA’s notification.

“We are just surprised that the FA panel didn’t contact me or contact my doctor until 3.50pm on Sunday afternoon. I have never in my career been put in a situation like that ever, so we had that to deal with,” he added.

“We just can’t understand why the message would come to us at that time.” Van Aanholt has since had further tests and will be part of the Sunderland squad that travels for the EFL Cup third-round clash at QPR on Wednesday night, although Moyes is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will be involved.

Sunderland are 2.40 to win at Loftus Road, with QPR 3.00 and the draw 3.40.