Sunderland striker Darren Bent will be fit after coming through Monday night's 0-0 draw at Blackburn despite missing 10 days' training with the groin injury he picked up on England duty.
Full-back Kieran Richardson is likely to miss out after suffering a setback in his battle against a hamstring problem, while Andy Reid is out with a similar problem.
Manager Steve Bruce has no other fitness concerns and only David Meyler, who is back in training after a knee injury, and Fraizer Campbell (also knee) remain on the sidelines.
Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey and winger Marc Albrighton are fit for the trip to the North-East.
The duo missed the home goalless draw with Chelsea last weekend through a back injury and sickness respectively.
Central defender Richard Dunne is also available after being substituted in the early stages against the Blues with a cut ankle which required several stitches.
But striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and full-back Luke Young are again ruled out.
Agbonlahor is still recovering from minor surgery to his groin while Young will be out of action for a further two weeks with a torn hamstring.
Sunderland (from): Mignolet, Gordon, Onuoha, Bardsley, Angeleri, Bramble, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Da Silva, Cattermole, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Zenden, Bent, Gyan, Welbeck.
Villa (from): Friedel, Beye, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Downing, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Ireland, Ashley Young, Carew, Guzan, Heskey, Delfouneso, Albrighton, Clark, Cuellar, Sidwell, Bannan, Lichaj.
