The Republic of Ireland international, who joined the club from Manchester United during the summer, damaged a hamstring during pre-season and is not yet ready to resume.

Fellow new boys Keiren Westwood, Wes Brown, Craig Gardner, David Vaughan, Sebastian Larsson, Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won will all hope to have forced their way into manager Steve Bruce's plans, although Craig Gordon, David Meyler and Fraizer Campbell (all knee) remain on the sidelines.

Team (from): Mignolet, Westwood, Bardsley, Brown, Richardson, Turner, Bramble, Ferdinand, Laing, Cattermole, Gardner, Vaughan, Colback, Elmohamady, Gyan, Sessegnon, Wickham, Ji, Cook.