Aston Villa travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Saturday looking for their first win in five Premier League games.
Paul Lambert's men have struggled so far this season and are precariously perched just one place above the relegation zone with six points from nine games.
Ciaran Clark (knee) and Nathan Baker (ankle) are welcomed back into the fold, but midfielder Karim El Ahmadi will serve a one-match suspension.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Larsson is unlikely to feature after limping off during last weekend's goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.
Wes Brown (knee) and Titus Bramble (hip) are still missing from Martin O'Neill's squad.
Recent form:
Sunderland: DWLDD
Aston Villa: LDLLD
Possible lineups:
Sunderland: Westwood; Bardsley, Cuellar, O'Shea, Rose; Cattermole, Colback, Johnson, Gardner, Sessegnon; Fletcher
Aston Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Herd, Bennett; Westwood, Holman, Bannan, Ireland; Bent, Benteke
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Michael Penkman
