Where Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby could be won as Sunderland visit Newcastle United | OneFootball

The Tyne-Wear derby returns at St James' Park on Sunday, with Sunderland chasing a league double over Newcastle United and aiming to preserve their impressive recent record. Big calls await Regis Le Bris and Eddie Howe, and key areas could shape the outcome.

Sunderland Echo highlights three decisive fronts, midfield control, the full-back duel and Brobbey’s ability to lead the line under pressure.

In midfield, the influence of Granit Xhaka on and off the ball, plus his leadership, could be crucial against a Magpies engine room packed with power and energy. Stifling Sandro Tonali and Joelinton may be pivotal, with Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki tasked with rising to the challenge in their first away derby.

Out wide, the return of England international Tino Livramento, alongside Lewis Hall, has sharpened Newcastle’s thrust from full-back. Their overlapping runs could trouble Sunderland, so the Black Cats wingers must graft both ways to reduce the pair’s impact.

Up front, Brobbey has provided a robust focal point in his first season on Wearside, unsettling some of the Premier League’s strongest defenders. It is likely Newcastle will seek to dominate possession at home, which makes Brobbey’s hold-up play and physical battle with Dan Burn and Malick Thiaw even more important to relieve pressure and keep Sunderland up the pitch.

Source: Sunderland Echo