Full-back Ondrej Celustka returns to the Sunderland squad for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Chelsea.
The Czech defender, who has not made a senior appearance for the Black Cats since the FA Cup victory over Southampton on February 15, is available after recovering from a knee problem, and his presence is timely with Phil Bardsley completing his two-match ban.
However, Liam Bridcutt (personal reasons), Ki Sung-yueng (knee) and Carlos Cuellar (hamstring), remain on the sidelines alongside long-term injury victims Keiren Westwood (shoulder) and Steven Fletcher (ankle).