Don, who made his comeback over the festive period, then missed the trip to Blackburn to be with his family in Newcastle.
Says Glenn Roeder: "His father passed away on Sunday morning so Don will not be available for Wednesay's game.
"All our thoughts go to Don and his family at a sad, sad time."
As far as other matters are concerned, Glenn admits he will have to rest Steve Lomas sooner rather than later as he struggles on with an ankle problem.
"Steve Lomas epitomises the spirit in the squad and probably shouldn't have played the last three or four games," he says.
"But he is soldiering on, though I think there will come a time, maybe this weekend in the cup, when he won't be available and he will need to take seven or ten days off.
"He is a good example of the spirit in what is a small squad.
"When we went to Blackburn we took every player that was available, with the likes of young Ferdinand, Johnson, Sofiane - we are stretched beyond the limit."
Looking to the Charlton game, Glenn says: "We will go there with a positive attitude and hopefully the same determination as we showed at Ewood Park.
"We know it is a massive game for us and our supporters.
"We were very unhappy to lose the game at home earlier this season to two set plays and we must deal with them this time.
"They are very strong on dead ball kicks and we know they will bombard our penalty box."
The Addicks are unbeaten in eight Premiership games and Glenn adds: "They are in fine form and we seem to be playing teams at the moment that are doing well.
"Middlesbrough hadn't lost a home game but should have to us, we went to Manchester United who were doing well, and the same goes for Blackburn.
"Charlton are in form as well and it will be a cup tie atmosphere on New Year's Day over there - with games like this sometimes form can go out the window.
"The players are all fired up for it, looking forward to the game, and I got a good response from them in training - I can tell they are all up for it."