Jeff Hendrick is suspended but Burnley hope to have Dean Marney available after a knock.
Jordan Pickford has been ruled out for six to eight weeks after straining his knee ligaments, meaning Vito Mannone is set to feature in goal for Sunderland.
Jack Rodwell, Javier Manquillo and Steven Pienaar are back in training, though long-term absentees Duncan Watmore, Paddy McNair, Jan Kirchhoff (all knee), Lee Cattermole (hip) and Lynden Gooch (ankle) are all still unavailable.
Did you know?
Burnley’s only Premier League victory v Sunderland came in their first match against them in September 2009, David Nugent scoring twice in a 3- 1 win at Turf Moor.
That defeat in 2009 is Sunderland’s only loss in their last 18 league meetings with Burnley (W10 D7 L1).
Sunderland kept clean sheets in both league matches v Burnley in 2014/15; the last time they managed three successive shutouts against the Clarets was in 1895.
Burnley have not ended a calendar year with a defeat since 2012, while Sunderland have not ended a calendar year with a league victory since 2007.
What the managers say
Sean Dyche: “They have managed to turn a few more results in over the past eight or nine games, and they have a very good manager."
See: Dyche looks for New Year cheer
David Moyes: "Turf Moor has always been a difficult place to go. Burnley have some really good results on the board but we're getting closer."
