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Derby Day Dummett's Naked Ambition
Written by Newcastle Utd
Fresh from his first Newcastle goal last weekend, local lad Paul Dummett explains exactly what another in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday would mean to him
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
When Paul Dummett scored his first Newcastle goal against Liverpool on Saturday, it was obvious just how much it meant to him. The boyhood Magpies supporter's face lit up as he sprinted towards the Strawberry corner with a hop, skip and jump before being mobbed by his team-mates in celebrations which seemed to last for several minutes.
But the 22-year-old defender has warned that he'd be even more jubilant if he scored against Sunderland in Sunday's 149th Tyne-Wear derby should he get the nod from Alan Pardew to play at the Stadium of Light.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is suspended after the red card which led to Dummett coming from the bench last weekend so either the former Kenton School pupil or fellow Geordie boy Steven Taylor will partner Mike Williamson in the centre of defence on Wearside.
And while their primary role would be to keep out the red and white attackers, Dummett - whose first ever United goal came in a 1-0 under-18 win against the Black Cats in February 2010 - told nufcTV: "I think if I scored against Sunderland I'd be worse than I was (on Saturday).
"I'd probably be running around the full pitch and taking my clothes off!"
When Newcastle drew at the Stadium of Light last season, Dummett - whose Reserve team debut came in a 2-1 victory at Sunderland in January 2009 - was in the away end and many of the supporters around him would not even have recognised him.
But such has been his progress over the last 12 months, he could now find himself thrust into the heat of the battle on Sunday and when asked what it would mean to him to play in the fixture he said: "Everything."
He added: "I think Steven Taylor's the same, Sammy (Ameobi), Shola (Ameobi): they all know exactly what it means and for me to play out there... it would be the best feeling ever in the world, I think.
"That would be the biggest game of my life.
"Every year, as I've grown up, I've went to Sunderland away and stood with the fans on the buses travelling down there to watch the game and singing in the crowd.
"So if I'm not involved I want to be in that crowd singing songs and cheering these players on.
"I'm a local boy that wants to play for this Club so I'll be waiting to try to get involved. Hopefully the manager picks me in the squad."
Click here to watch the full nufcTV interview with Paul Dummett