Sunderland v Newcastle: Magpies Unchanged

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At the Stadium of Light

Head coach Steve McClaren has named an unchanged Newcastle United starting line-up for Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (noon kick-off).

The Magpies were 6-2 winners over Norwich City seven days ago and, unsurprisingly, McClaren has kept faith with the same group of players for this Barclays Premier League fixture, as they look to record back-to-back top flight victories.

Newcastle are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with goalkeeper Rob Elliot behind a back four of Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, captain Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett.

Anita and former Sunderland man Jack Colback will anchor the visitors' midfield, with Moussa Sissoko and last week's four-goal hero Georginio Wijnaldum on either flank.

And in the final third, Spanish starlet Ayoze Perez will play off Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored in both of United's last two games.

On a strong substitutes' bench there are places for forwards Papiss Cisse, Florian Thauvin, Siem de Jong, midfielder Vurnon Anita, defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Massadio Haidara, and goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Costel Pantilimon; DeAndre Yedlin, Younes Kaboul, John O'Shea, Billy Jones; Lee Cattermole, Yann M'Vila; Adam Johnson, Ola Toivonen, Jeremain Lens; Steven Fletcher

Substitutes: Vito Mannone, Patrick van Aanholt, Sebastian Coates, Sebastian Larsson, Jordi Gomez, Duncan Watmore, Jermain Defoe

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic

Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Massadio Haidara, Jamaal Lascelles, Vurnon Anita, Siem de Jong, Florian Thauvin, Papiss Cisse

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)