Alan Shearer was hoping Newcastle United could have a ‘bit of luck’ against Sunderland very soon, but that will not prove to be the case.
The Tyne-Wear derby is a Premier League fixture once again, and it will not be long until Newcastle United and Sunderland face off against each other.
The two sides are set to meet at the Stadium of Light on 14th December, with each team set to play two more Premier League games before the derby.
Sunderland’s start to the season has made the upcoming clash even spicier, but they also have the added complication of the looming Africa Cup of Nations.
They have seven players who are set to compete at AFCON, and Alan Shearer was hoping that would mean they are unable to feature against the Magpies.
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Alan Shearer wonders if Sunderland’s AFCON players will be involved against Newcastle United
Perhaps tongue in cheek, Alan Shearer has told the Rest Is Football podcast that he hopes Sunderland’s players will be called up before the derby and subsequently miss the game against Newcastle United.
“The derby game is coming up in two weeks’ time,” he said.
“At Sunderland. I’m not sure yet whether they’ve had any clearance, whether they can keep hold of all their players before going to the African Cup of Nations.
“With a bit of luck, the six or seven, they’ll have to be called up and leave before the derby, but I suspect they might get leave and then play in the game and then be able to go over there.”
The players Sunderland could lose during the AFCON are:
- Habib Diarra
- Bertrand Traore
- Noah Sadiki
- Reinaldo Mandava
- Chemsdine Talbi
- Simon Adingra
- Arthur Masuaku
While Shearer was just having a bit of fun, it has now been reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie that Sunderland’s seven AFCON representatives will be able to feature in the Tyne-Wear derby against Eddie Howe’s side.
Downie has stated on X that FIFA have told clubs that they will be able to keep their players until 15th December, which means Sunderland’s African contingent can play 24 hours earlier in the derby.
As for Newcastle United, they will not be impacted by the Africa Cup of Nations. Yoane Wissa is not in the DR Congo squad, which is a boost for the Magpies given the amount of football he has already missed this season.
When is the Africa Cup of Nations?
The Africa Cup of Nations begins in less than three weeks.
The tournament kicks off in Morocco on 21st December, with the final scheduled for 18th January.
For Newcastle and Eddie Howe, their AFCON concern hinged on whether Yoane Wissa was called up. Wissa is close to returning from injury, having finally started training with his Newcastle United teammates.
There were fears that his looming return would result in an AFCON call-up, but DR Congo have opted not to include the £55million striker in their squad.