Derby day is upon us, and this one feels huge for Newcastle United on so many levels.
Huge for restoring local pride after December’s dismal defeat, huge to get Wednesday’s collapse out of our system, huge for Howe’s standing at the club, huge for the players’ confidence levels heading into the run-in and huge to get our European hopes back on track as we hunt down Chelsea (6th), Brentford (7th) and Everton (8th).
We said March was always going to be a massive month. So far, it’s been a mixed bag, as back-to-back wins in the Premier League with brilliant victories over Man Utd and Chelsea have been mixed in with us going out of the FA Cup with a whimper against Man City before that midweek bashing in Barcelona, featuring a start that gave us hope and a second half we’ll not forget for all the wrong reasons.
And now comes the big one. The Mackems. Win and our midweek bashing will be soon forgotten, we’ll head into the international break on a high, we’ll move five clear of Sunderland and make it three in a row in the Premier League ahead of a run-in where every game looks very winnable, with us facing just one team inside the top nine in our final seven.
Local derbies are always massive, especially this one almost 10 years to the day since our last meeting at St James’ Park, but this one feels vital in so many ways, having the potential to make or break our end to a tough 2025/26 season.
Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Howe had this to say ahead of Sunday’s derby.
> _“We have a bit of work to do, psychologically, with the players off the back of what was a really strange game to digest and review. We have to leave one game very quickly and focus on the next. That’s a skill, I think, to be able to park it and move onto the next one._
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> _“We have to do that really quickly and effectively because the game will be on us before we know it. It’s a 12 o’clock kick-off, a very quick turnaround. There’s a bit of work to do today and tomorrow with the players.”_
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> _“We know how tough the game was against them earlier in the season. We need to use that experience of the first game, the emotions we felt afterwards. We are focused on delivering a really good performance.”_
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> _“We need to perform. The positives of this game for us can be huge, for the fans, for the city. We need to make sure our preparation for this game is as good as we can be to make sure we help the players._
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> _“The focus for us is to try and win the game. For us, we have to try and recover physically and mentally. The players will be ready for this game. We have eight massive games to go.”_
Team news
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Sandro Tonali has a chance of making it, with [Howe refusing to rule him out](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2026/03/20/newcastle-injury-update-on-tonali-bruno-miley-and-schar-howe-speaks-ahead-of-sunderland/) despite the Italian limping off at the Nou Camp with a groin/hip issue.
As expected, Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar remain out, but it’s hoped all three could be back in action after the international break.
For Sunderland, Regis Le Bris has ruled out four wingers in Jocelin Ta Bi, Nilson Angulo, Romaine Mundle and Bertrand Traore, while key men Nordi Mukiele, Robin Roefs, Dan Ballard and Enzo Le Fee are also facing late fitness tests. Reinildo Mandava is back, however, and should start at left-back.
Predicted XI
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> **(4-3-3):** Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
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> **OUT:** Trippier **IN:** Livramento
For me, there are potential dilemmas, and I’ve not included Dan Burn vs Sven Botman in that, as I’m almost certain Howe will go with the man from Blyth in this one, given the occasion.
1. Tino Livramento or Kieran Trippier at right-back?
2. Sandro Tonali or Joe Willock?
3. Anthony Elanga or Jacob Murphy?
I think Tino might just get the nod ahead of Trippier, while the Tonali question is purely dependant on his fitness. If he can’t make it, we’ll see Jacob Ramsey as the No.6, with Willock and Joelinton either side of him.
On the right wing, Elanga has the form but Murphy may be rotated back into the side. Personally, I’ll side with Elanga, who should be rewarded for his brace in Barcelona, although I would not be shocked if Howe goes for another boyhood fan in Murphy, much like Burn over Botman.
Match prediction
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The question we don’t have the answer to right now is how many of Sunderland’s key players make it out of Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard and Le Fee, but I think we’ll get the job done regardless.
They will try to frustrate us and I’m expecting them to arrive with the sort of low block that saw them frustrate Leeds (0-1 win) and Bournemouth (1-1) in their last two league away days.
That could be a problem if we don’t move the ball quick enough and start slowly, but I can’t see that happening.
Gordon to score and Newcastle to win, bouncing back from Barca with three points, bragging rights and a five point lead on our local rivals.
**Prediction:** Newcastle 2-0 Sunderland
Howay the lads!