Morgan Schneiderlin came on for James at Griffin Park, and he is in line to start anyway with boss Alan Pardew planning to reshuffle his midfield.
Skipper Dean Hammond is still missing with a calf problem and striker David Connolly has yet to fully recover from the groin injury which has kept him out since the turn of the year.
Veteran full-back Graeme Murty is continuing his recovery from ankle-ligament damage and could be back next month, while fringe midfielder Oscar Gobern has a leg injury.
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk