| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
NEWCASTLE  Krul Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez Ba, Cisse | SUNDERLAND  Mignolet Gardner, Turner, O'Shea, Richardson Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, McClean Sessegnon, Campbell |
Newcastle are hopeful that Papiss Cisse can start up front alongside Senegalese strike partner Demba Ba, despite having been substituted in last week's draw with Wolves after picking up a groin strain.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew has no suspended players for the derby clash and, with only long-term absentees such as Leon Best, Sammy Ameobi and Steven Taylor currently troubling the Newcastle treatment table, the home side will go into the game with near enough their strongest possible XI.
Sunderland are also relatively injury-free at present but are sweating over the fitness of Phil Bardsley after the right-back withdrew from Scotland's squad to face Slovenia in midweek.
The derby could see a return for David Vaughan to the midfield however, though the former Crewe man is more likely to start on the bench after having spent just over a month out with an ankle knock.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Newcastle have lost only one of the last 14 Tyne-Wear derbies.
- However, the Magpies haven't been able to secure consecutive wins over Sunderland in the same season since the 2005-06 campaign.
- If Pardew's men were to grab victory in Sunday's clash, it would be the club's 10th derby double over their neighbours. Sunderland have achieved the feat six times.
- To date, the Tyneside outfit have 53 wins in the fixture, while the Black Cats only have 44. There have been 47 draws between the two teams.
- The first competitive Tyne-Wear derby took place in the FA Cup in 1888, with Sunderland emerging as 2-0 victors.
- The Stadium of Light outfit have lost just three games in the Premier League since Martin O'Neill replaced Steve Bruce as manager, picking up 22 points from a possible 36.
- The Mackems have failed to keep a clean sheet against their rivals in 23 games.
- Newcastle legend Jimmy Lawrence has made more Tyne-Wear derby appearances than any other player (27), but it is former Sunderland man George Holley who has scored the most amount of goals in the clash (22).
- Both teams have players within their squads who have crossed the Tyne-Wear divide, with Newcastle man Danny Simpson having played on loan at Sunderland in 2007, and Black Cats defender Titus Bramble having spent five years as a Magpie.
- Sunderland haven't won in Newcastle since their 2-1 victory on November 18, 2000.
Editor's Prediction
Newcastle 3-1 Sunderland 
