Tony Mowbray will be able to welcome back a couple of key players for the game, while the injury situation continues to ease following an at times difficult start to the campaign.
So what's the latest on the injury and team news front, who will be missing next weekend and who could yet feature? And when are those absent likely to return? Here’s everything you need to know..
5. CHRIS RIGG
Rigg is currently in Indonesia as England U17s play in the World Cup and after winning their first two group games, they look likely to progress to the latter stages of the tournament. As such, he seems highly likely to miss the next few fixtures.
The final is scheduled to be played on December 4th. Potential return date: West Brom (H) December 9th Photo: FRANK REID 2022
6. TIMOTHÉE PEMBÉLÉ
Timothée Pembélé arrived from PSG still recovering from a long-term ACL injury, with Sunderland drawing up a bespoke fitness programme for him.
The full back rejoined full training but has suffered a setback and is still working his way back to full fitness.
With some time in the U21 side likely required before he can make his senior debut, it's unlikely he will be able to feature in a squad until sometime next month.
"Timothée Pembélé is not too dissimilar to Aji Alese in terms of the timescale, maybe three or four weeks [before he's back in full training]," Mowbray said last Thursday. Potential return date: Bristol City (A) December 16th Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
7. JAY MATETE
Matete suffered a knee injury in the final game of Sunderland's pre-season trip to the USA, a major blow given that he was making a strong impression on the coaching staff following a successful loan at Plymouth Argyle. The midfielder is expected to rejoin full training at some stage this month, and will then need some minutes in U21/bounce games to rebuild his match fitness. Mowbray's hope has always been that Matete will be back in the fold by the time of the busy festive schedule.
"I'd suggest that within the next month or so, he'll be back training with the group and then he can try and force his way into the side," Mowbray said ahead of the trip to Swansea. Potential return date: Coventry City (H) December 23rd Photo: Frank Reid
8. ELLIOT EMBLETON
Embleton is back on Wearside recovering from a freak muscle injury he suffered in the early stages of his loan at Derby County, taking a corner right at the very end of a training session. The exact timeframe of his recovery from this latest setback is unknown, though Mowbray said in late September that it was likely to be a 'few months'.
Embleton is still on loan at Derby County, with a decision on the rest of the campaign likely to be made some time in the January transfer window. Photo: FRANK REID