Newcastle United’s clash against Sunderland on Sunday is what everyone in the North East of England and beyond is talking about.
Sunday’s game at the Stadium of Light will be the first Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League since 2016.
Newcastle United did record a victory on Wearside in an FA Cup game back in January 2024 but their Premier League record against the Black Cats in relatively recent years is very poor indeed.
It doesn’t look like we’re wearing black and white on Sunday – how do you feel about that?⚫⚪
At least it's not the green kit, think of it like that!
It’s an absolutely huge test for this Newcastle team, who haven’t convinced all season. Sunderland have enjoyed a fine start to the campaign and have little to lose.
Usually on a Friday, Eddie Howe speaks to the media at around 9.30am GMT ahead of the weekend’s game. There has, however, been a change ahead of Sunderland vs Newcastle United on Sunday.
Newcastle United players were not in training on Friday
That’s seemingly because the Newcastle United manager has given the squad the day off.
Howe made a change to his training schedule ahead of Sunderland vs Newcastle United, having previously done so between the Marseille and Everton games last month.
His players trained on Thursday morning after arriving back from Germany late following the 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
They have duly been given Friday off, meaning Howe has not conducted his press conference at his usual time.
The Newcastle United squad will be back in for training on Saturday, 24 hours before the biggest game of the season.
This is our predicted Newcastle XI to face Sunderland! Would you make any changes?
I would start Miley, but I think Howe will go with Joelinton.
What Eddie Howe has said before Newcastle United play Sunderland
Still, Howe has spoken in a different medium.
He talked to reporters after the Leverkusen game about the importance of Sunday’s clash.
Though he was aware of the intense rivalry before taking the job at Newcastle, Howe believes no one can really know just how fierce it gets before they experience it first-hand.
“I was aware of it [the rivalry] before, but I think it’s very different when you’re seeing it from afar to actually living it and experiencing it yourself,” he told The Chronicle.
“I’d seen many derbies on the TV and you can sense there’s an intense rivalry there. That’s a great thing for the game, I love that and I think it’s one of the things that makes football so special. But then when you’re here, you realise it’s even much more than you thought from the outside. It’ll be great to experience it in a league game.”
Howe has won his only game against Sunderland as Newcastle manager, which was an FA Cup clash last January.
Already arguably the greatest manager in the club’s history, he’d only cement his status even further if he claims another victory on Wearside.
Sign up to TalkingPoints for free to join the conversation about all things Newcastle United with Geordie Boot Boys!