Sunderland and Newcastle will go head-to-head in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, in the first Tyne-Wear derby in the top flight for over nine years.
The Black Cats have had a fine season so far since earning promotion from the Championship, and currently sit in 10th place, but have just one win in their last five games. Eddie Howe’s side, on the other hand, have had a mixed season and currently sit 12th in the league, having won three of their last four, although they suffered defeat in midweek in the Champions League.
Both sides have some injury concerns ahead of the game, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects the teams to line up.
Sunderland Team News
Regis Le Bris is set to have a strong squad to choose from for this game before he loses a big chunk of his squad to the African Cup of Nations on Monday.
Luke O’Nien is suspended and won’t return until the new year, while Aji Alese and Habib Diarra are long-term absentees through injury. However, left-back Reinildo has recovered from injury and is available for selection for this game. Dennis Cirkin could also make his first appearance of the campaign.
Sunderland Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Injury
Potential Return Date
Luke O’Nien
Suspended
01/01/2026
Reinildo
Groin
14/12/2025
Habib Diarra
Groin
Unknown
Aji Alese
Shoulder
Unknown
Le Bris Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Le Bris shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“Dennis [Cirkin] is ready – he has trained properly now for two or three weeks and he’s connected in the group. It’s good news because right now we don’t have many injuries.
“Habib [Diarra] will train with the group next week and be in full training. He will need probably one or two weeks to be at his best after a good rehab programme and after that it depends on AFCON.
“We need to build his fitness level and after that, he will be ready.
“The decision is with the national team – if they want to select the player, they can – it’s not our decision.
“Reinildo is fit, he trained on Thursday and again today [Friday].”
Sunderland are likely to be looking to take the game to Newcastle in front of their fans, and that should see an attacking lineup named. Simon Adingra should come back into the side on the wing in place of Chemsdine Talbi, while Wilson Isidor will lead the line.
That should see £180,000-a-week duo Lutsharel Geertruida and Bryan Brobbey named on the bench.
Newcastle Team News
UEFA Champions League – Newcastle United v FC Barcelona – St James’ Park, Newcastle, Britain – September 18, 2025 Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier prepares to take a thrown in Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
The Magpies are battling with a number of injury issues ahead of this game, and experienced defender Kieran Trippier remains unavailable due to a thigh injury, while Sven Botman is also ruled out with a back problem.
Eddie Howe will be hopeful Nick Pope and Joelinton can return following groin issues, but Emil Krafth and William Osula remain sidelined.
Newcastle Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Injury
Potential Return Date
Kieran Trippier
Thigh
04/012026
Sven Botman
Back
20/12/2025
Joelinton
Groin
14/12/2025
Nick Pope
Groin
14/12/2025
Emil Krafth
Knee
Unknown
William Osula
Ankle
Unknown
Howe Speaks on Tyne-Wear Derby
Speaking ahead of the game, Howe shared his thoughts on the Tyne-Wear derby and what it means to the club.
“It will be difficult. I think these games always are because there’s a lot of emotion and challenges for the players to overcome to make sure we enter the pitch in the right frame of mind and where we absolutely need to be, which is focused on how we play and what we need to do.
“The arousal levels are absolutely key because you can be too high or too low. I don’t think there will be many too low in preparation for this game but finding that place where the players play at their best is my challenge.
“Of course, you don’t want the players to overthink things. It’s a very important game but we’ve got to focus on our performance so all of these things will be important.”
Newcastle Predicted XI
Newcastle Predicted XI: Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, B. Guimaraes, Miley; J. Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.
Newcastle are likely to go with a familiar looking side, but youngster Lewis Miley could get the nod ahead of Joelinton as the Brazilian looks to recover from a knock.
Anthony Gordon should also start once more, but that should see £300,000-a-week duo Anthony Elanga and Yoanne Wissa on the bench once more.
Tottenham Hotspur mean business in this summer transfer window, and they clearly have no intention of finding themselves near the relegation zone in the Premier League again anytime soon.
Tottenham have already completed the signings of three players ahead of the Roberto De Zerbi revolution, including a Champions League and Premier League winner in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke.
It has been suggested that they want to complete seven summer signings, with a midfielder and three attackers to follow, although Spurs are also being linked with a second central midfielder and goalkeepers with Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave.
The north Londoners have been working hard on a deal to sign De Zerbi’s top target Sandro Tonali, having already had a £75m bid rejected by Newcastle United for the Italy international.
The 26-year-old is said to be keen on a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to link up with Italian compatriot De Zerbi, as Spurs continue to show huge ambition in the market.
Tonali isn’t the only midfielder De Zerbi has on his wishlist however, with the 47-year-old also wanting to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes on top of the Italian, following the Irons’ relegation to the Championship.
Tottenham ‘Very Close’ to Mateus Fernandes Agreement
via Reuters
Italian journalist Matteo Moretto reported on Saturday that Tottenham are now ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement on personal terms with Fernandes, as they look to try and beat Premier League rivals Manchester United to his signature.
United had looked to be in clear pole position to sign the Portugal international, who would like to link up with Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford, but Spurs appear to have made an attractive offer to him as well, which would allow him to remain in London.
The Red Devils can also offer the ‘elite’ 21-year-old star Champions League football next term while Spurs have no European football to offer at all.
Nevertheless, Fernandes seems ready to join Tottenham if they can agree a fee with West Ham, as he looks to avoid playing in England’s second tier.
Tonali Will Love Fernandes
via Reuters
If Tottenham can pull off an audacious double swoop for Tonali and Fernandes, like De Zerbi wants them to, they would arguably have one of the best central midfield partnerships in the Premier League.
Tonali is a physically imposing midfielder with impressive strength and stamina, while he has also shown his ability to dicate matches and make an impact in the final third at St James’ Park too.
Fernandes could prove to be the perfect player to complement him in the Tottenham engine room, given the Portuguese’s own versatility.
The 21-year-old has proven he can play as a ‘6’, ‘8’ and a ’10’ during his spells with West Ham and Southampton, and that adaptability will allow Tonali to not only sit deep, but also get involved in more attacking areas too because he knows he can rely on him for tackling success.
When Tonali finds Fernandes in possession, he knows that youngster will use the ball well too after what we’ve seen from him at St Mary’s and the London Stadium.
Arsenal are facing a fight to keep hold of defender Piero Hincapie, as ESPN reports that Real Madrid have made enquiries about signing the Ecuadorian international this summer.
However, with centre-back problems lurking in the background for the Spanish giants, they are back shopping in the Premier League, and are looking to swipe a star from the Gunners.
Real Madrid Want Piero Hincapie
After failing in an attempt to sign Calafiori, Real Madrid are looking at Arsenal star Hincapie, as ESPN reports that enquiries have been made over a deal.
It comes as Los Blancos want a left-footed centre-back, with moves elsewhere in the backline set to free up a space for the position this summer.
Any deal looks difficult, however, as Arsenal are set to make Hincapie’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen permanent this summer with a £45 million clause in his deal.
That’s not to say a move isn’t possible, but the Gunners would likely be hesitant to let the 24-year-old leave without at least banking a significant profit on a switch to a Champions League rival.
Having already sounded out Hincapie, the report adds that Real Madrid have also enquired about Ruben Dias, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nico Schlotterbeck – though the latter is now unlikely to move due to an injury sustained at the World Cup with Germany.
In all, it means Arsenal could face a potential battle in keeping the versatile defender, but have all the cards in their hand to keep him if they so wish.
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What Mikel Arteta has said about Hincapie
Hincapie wasn’t always a guaranteed started for Arsenal over the course of the previous season, but he did play a large role in the team finally winning the Premier League.
The defender was a reliable option, especially when injuries struck in the backline, adding plenty of pace and physicality at full-back in particular.
“When I spoke to Xabi just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, ‘He’s a warrior,'” Arteta said in March to TNT Sports.
Arsenal continue to be linked with potential forward options in the market, but face a battle to land one key target.
“He will play through brick walls for you and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had. He’s come into the Premier League after surgery and a difficult start without a pre-season, and when you see him around his team-mates and competing on the pitch, it’s like he’s been here for 10 years.
“He has an aura, a charisma – a really special character.”
It shows exactly what Arteta thinks of Hincapie, and perhaps further underlines how tough it may be for Real Madrid to tempt a move this summer.
One England player chose not to shake Thomas Partey’s hand before the Three Lions faced Ghana in their second World Cup game in Boston on Tuesday night.
The Ghanaian midfielder, previously of Arsenal, is currently facing allegations that include seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four different women, as per The Mirror.
These incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022, with investigations taking place while he was still plying his trade in the Premier League.
England have been urged to change their national anthem for football matches, and ditch ‘God Save the King’.
England Player Refuses Thomas Partey’s Handshake Before World Cup Tie
Cody Grubbs (Sipa USA via Reuters)
Heading into the clash, the English FA’s stance was that the players could make their own decision on whether or not to embrace Partey following the national anthems being played.
In Djed Spence’s case, the Tottenham defender chose to keep his arms by his side as his former north London adversary walked past him. Watch the incident below:
