The former Middlesbrough and Wigan player has been struggling with a heel problem suffered on international duty and manager Steve Bruce will make a late decision on him.

Goalkeeper Marton Fulop is likely to miss out once again with a similar problem, although Craig Gordon, who played in the 4-1 victory over Hull last weekend, has recovered from his thigh strain.

Left-back George McCartney has a chance of making the game after recovering more quickly than expected from a hamstring injury, but Kieran Richardson, who played there against the Tigers, John Mensah and Paulo da Silva are standing by.

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Carson, Bardsley, McCartney, Ferdinand, Turner, Nosworthy, Da Silva, Mensah, Cana, Cattermole, Richardson, Reid, Malbranque, Henderson, Bent, Jones, Campbell, Murphy, Healy.