Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt has played down fears regarding his heart.

Van Aanholt was surprisingly withdrawn from the Sunderland starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur on the weekend less than 15 minutes before kick-off and manager David Moyes went on to reveal that he took the late decision on the advice of a heart specialist.

To allay fears though, van Aanholt has now gone on to reveal that there is nothing wrong with him at the moment and suspects that the heart problem was seen ahead of the game as he had picked up a virus last week.

"I was indeed surprised, because there is really nothing to worry about," van Aanholt told Dutch outlet Voetbal International.

"I've been sick last week. I picked up a virus and that would have crept around my body, possibly even to my heart.

"So we had to make a scan, but the scan is offered late or too late at the FA and therefore I had to sit in the stands. I felt nothing in my heart, I'm just fit. I understand that the media story will blow up, but nothing quite beats it.

"I play tomorrow (against QPR in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night)."