The midfielder is cup-tied having already played for former club Brighton in the competition earlier this season, and Lee Cattermole is likely to play the holding role in front of Gus Poyet's back four at Wembley.
Striker Connor Wickham will not be involved having joined Leeds on loan for the rest of the season on Wednesday, while keeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) is the only man to miss out through injury.
Sunderland (from): Mannone, Ustari, Celustka, Alonso, Bardsley, O'Shea, Vergini, Cuellar, Roberge, Cattermole, Gardner, Ki, Giaccherini, Johnson, Colback, Larsson, Ba, Mavrias, Altidore, Borini, Scocco, Fletcher.