Kenwyne Jones is facing a battle to be fit for Sunderland's clash with Birmingham City this weekend after limping off against Man City.
The Trinidad and Tobago international, who didn't come back out for the second-half last Sunday, has a chance of being involved after scans revealed no lasting damage to his hip flexor.
Andy Reid and Lee Cattermole (both hamstring) could also make it back into the squad, while the Black Cats will continue to monitor Boudewijn Zenden's knee problem.
Captain Lorik Cana will be missing again as he completes a two-match ban.
Boss Steve Bruce is urging his players to shake off the shackles of a relegation fight to set their sights on a top-10 finish.
"I would be very, very pleased with that if I could get it, and it would define our season because then we have got a chance of going above Blackburn, we have got a chance of catching Bolton and making a play of finishing in the top 10," he said.
"That's what we have got to try to achieve now. Can we try to stop looking over our shoulders - even though we still are, if I am being honest, we are still looking over."