Stephen Warnock is set to miss Villa's trip to Wearside with a whiplash injury picked up at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Warnock collided with South Korean star Park Ji-Sung in the historic 1-0 victory and is not likely to be ready for the Stadium of Light battle.
Luke Young, who performed admirably at left-back last season, is set to deputie with James Collins coming into the centre.
Carlos Cuellar will move to right-back in a necessary reshufle for Martin O'Neill's men.
Likely Villa line-up
Friedel
Cuellar Collins Dunne L Young
Downing Milner Petrov A Young
Heskey Agbonlahor