Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is unable to give a Premier League debut to defender Marcos Rojo after he was unable to gain a work permit in time for the trip to the Stadium of Light.
United will also be without midfielder Ander Herrera after the Mexican picked up an ankle injury in training, ruling him out for the rest of the month.
Striker Robin van Persie is in contention to make a return after he sat out the 2-1 loss to Swansea City last weekend.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is boosted by the return of summer signing Billy Jones for the visit of United.
The former West Bromwich Albion missed last week's 2-2 draw with his former club through injury, but he could be drafted in at right-back.
Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham are expected to retain their place in attack, despite competition from Jozy Altidore.
Recent form
Sunderland: D
Manchester United: L
Possible starting lineups
Sunderland: Mannone; Brown, Van Aanholt, O'Shea, Jones; Cattermole, Johnson, Larsson, Rodwell; Wickham, Fletcher
Manchester United: De Gea; Blackett, Smalling, Jones; Valencia, Young, Fletcher, Kagawa, Mata; Van Persie, Rooney
Sports Mole says: 1-2
Darren Plant
