The Albania international picked up his 10th booking of the season in Tuesday night's 4-0 win over Bolton and will sit out the City game and Birmingham's visit to the Stadium of Light next weekend.
Lee Cattermole is battling to shake off a hamstring problem, while Kieran Richardson (calf) and Jordan Henderson (ankle) are struggling.
Andy Reid (hamstring) will not make the game, but David Meyler is available again after completing a three-match ban.
Black Cats (from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Hutton, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Cattermole, Zenden, Richardson, Malbranque, Henderson, Campbell, Bent, Jones, Benjani, Meyler, Liddle, Noble.
