David Moyes criticises timing of Patrick van Aanholt heart advice - but FA insist they were not to blame

However, the FA insist they were not to blame as the advice came from an independent expert and the governing body was not directly involved in the chain of events that led to van Aanholt being taken out of the starting line-up at White Hart Lane.

Van Aanholt was removed from Sunday’s team sheet after Sunderland’s team doctor was informed of some findings from a heart test that was conducted on the full-back last Tuesday. That information was relayed just 35 minutes before kick-off, with Moyes being updated moments later.

There was no requirement for van Aanholt to be withdrawn, but Moyes opted to leave the full-back out of the team, even though it meant having to completely reshape his back four.

Van Aanholt, who gave an interview to the Dutch media late last night in which he claimed to have been suffering from a virus, has undergone additional heart tests, and travelled to London with the rest of Sunderland’s squad yesterday ahead of this evening’s EFL Cup third-round game at QPR.

Sunderland officials do not want to expand on the precise nature of van Aanholt’s condition, but Moyes is clearly infuriated by the timing of Sunday’s developments.

“We are seeking answers,” said the Sunderland boss. “We would not have reacted (by taking van Aanholt out of the team) if we had not got something back from the FA panel, but the lateness of the call was the bit we have to ask about.

“Why was it so late? If it had been Friday or Saturday, or even two hours before the kick-off, we could have done something without it being brought to attention.

“There is a (FA) regulatory panel with concussion, and there is also one to do with cardiology and your heart. All players are tested now, and have statutory tests at the start of the season.

“Patrick also had a test on Tuesday after the Everton game. It was put to the FA panel, and for them to come back to us on Sunday at 3.55pm…

“It was completely out of our control. The results we got on Tuesday from our cardiologist were that everything was fine. Why would he have been in the team (otherwise)?”

However, the FA have responded to Moyes’ comments by insisting they were not responsible for assessing van Aanholt’s heart data, or for relaying any subsequent findings to Sunderland officials.

“This cardiac screen was not conducted as part of the FA’s cardiac screening programme, therefore, the FA had no involvement in the player’s referral, the screening process or the communication of the results with the club,” said an FA spokesperson. “On occasion, clubs may seek independent advice on a player’s cardiac health from an expert cardiologist who sits on The FA Consensus Panel, which is an expert body in this area.

“Cardiologists who sit on The FA Consensus Panel are hugely respected and vastly experienced specialists who place the patient at the very centre of their care and their only concern will be in regard to the wellbeing of that individual.”

Moyes did not want to discuss whether Sunday’s events were an isolated incident or part of a longer-term issue, but the Scotsman is happy with the way in which van Aanholt has reacted in the last few days.

“He seems fine,” he said. “He sent me a text message (on Monday) and he seems fine. He met another cardiologist (on Monday), so I think he’s in a full understanding of his position and where he stands. I think he’s okay.

“Maybe folk will now say the club and maybe the manager made the correct call on the information that was given. But I think the bigger thing is why the lateness?”

The Sunderland boss also clarified the sequence of events that resulted in van Aanholt being withdrawn from the line-up, and which appeared to involve the defender being told of his demotion by team-mate Jason Denayer.

Having been informed to adapt his warm-up because he was going to be starting the game, Denayer was actually instructed to tell van Aanholt he had to go and see Moyes on the touchline so the pair could have a chat.

“Patrick was out warming up,” explained Moyes. “I didn’t want to pull him right in off the pitch, so all I could do was get a message to Jason to get himself prepared for the game. I wanted to tell him (van Aanholt) face-to-face the minute he walked off the pitch from the warm-up.”

The van Aanholt situation has completely overshadowed the build-up to tonight’s League Cup tie, although Moyes has also had further complications to address.

Jermain Defoe has not travelled to London after suffering a kick to the calf on Sunday, with fellow striker Victor Anichebe still not available as he continues to build up his fitness. Joel Asoro is part of the squad, but is nursing a minor niggle, so Moyes could be forced to name Duncan Watmore as a stand-in striker, with Wahbi Khzari also unavailable because of illness.

“If this was a league game, maybe Jermain could be patched up and we would see things differently, but he’s got a kick to his calf and even if he was fit, I don’t think we would have used him anyway because he’s our only main striker,” said Moyes.

“If we lost Jermain for any length of time, it could be a problem. We wanted a striker, and that’s why we brought Victor, but Victor’s not ready to start.”

Sunderland (possible, 4-2-3-1): Pickford; Love, Kone, Djilobodji, van Aanholt; Rodwell, Ndong; Januzaj, Pienaar, Gooch; Watmore.