Fulham left-back Carlos Salcido will return for the match after recovering from an ankle injury.
Moussa Dembele is still struggling with his ankle problem but could be action next weekend, while Matthew Briggs has undergone a calf operation.
Bobby Zamora (ankle/leg) and Phillipe Senderos (Achilles) are still unavailable.
Asamoah Gyan and Craig Gordon have been declared as "slight doubts" by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce.
Striker Gyan has a toe injury and goalkeeper Gordon a hamstring problem, although Bruce is hopeful both will figure in the game at Craven Cottage.
Bruce, though, remains without a number of long-term injured, including Titus Bramble, Fraizer Campbell and Michael Turner, all with knee injuries.
Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Kelly, Salcido, Hughes, Baird, Hangeland, Duff, Dempsey, Murphy, Davies, Gera, Etuhu, A Johnson, E Johnson, Stockdale, Pantsil, Kamara, Greening, Dikgacoi, Kelly.
Sunderland (from): Gordon, Mignolet, Onuoha, Bardsley, Richardson, Angeleri, Ferdinand, Mensah, Da Silva, Cattermole, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Zenden, Bent, Gyan, Welbeck, Meyler, Adams.
