Trai Hume moves to left-back to cover for the injured Reinildo, with Dennis Cirkin missing from the squad. Boss Regis Le Bris says Cirkin has suffered a "small injury during training, not too serious".
Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fee are in midfield, with Angulo and Ta Bi supporting Brian Brobbey.
Reinildo is missing for a month with a knee injury. Hume, who has been playing on the right side of the attack in recent weeks, will start at left-back.
Xhaka has missed the last five games with an ankle injury and his return is a major boost for the Black Cats, but Le Bris clearly feels the captain is not quite ready to start.
SUNDERLAND: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Sadiki, Diarra, Le Fee, Ta Bi, Angulo, Brobbey
SUBS: Ellborg, Geertruida, Talbi, Rigg, Mayenda, O'Nien, Mundke, Isidor, Xhaka
FULHAM: Leno, Tete, Anderson, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Iwobi, Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Kevin, Raul
SUBS: Lecomte, Castagne, Diop, Cuenca, Reed, Cairney, King, Bobb, Muniz