Newcastle v Sunderland - Match Preview

3 weeks ago, I would have looked at this game as an absolute write off with clueless McClaren in charge. SMc made me, and I'm sure many more dread watching Newcastle play, something which when I was younger(and I'm only 19) would never have been something I'd expect to happen. However, with a new manager of some calibre in Benitez, we can only look forward. I think Leicester was an improvement defensively and Sissoko seemed to actually have an interest on what was happening around him, but unfortunately the attackers let us down again. That is something that is going to have changed dramatically if we are to get all 3 points on Sunday. So, looking particularly towards Sunday. As we all know, the record against Sunderland in recent years is horrific, but in this case we can just say the past is the past. Sunday is a chance to set our own record and get the victory that we desperately need for our own survival, with many including myself seeing this as a "winner stays up" type game. Onto the team news..... NUFC

One huge boost for us ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby is the return of Chancel Mbemba. He was confirmed to have been back in full training this week along with Senegalese forward Papiss Demba Cisse. In a misfiring forward line, his return could be an especially timely boost for us. Despite picking up a slight knock this week, Steven Taylor is expected to be fit and ready to play but the game has come just too soon for club captain Fabricio Coloccini. Other than that, there are no other returning players, although a number of players are close. SAFC

Some bad news for Newcastle is that forward Jermaine Defoe is back fit and ready to play in a game he has performed consistently in since joining the club. Lee Cattermole is also set to return and that'll certainly intensify the chances of a fiercely contested battle. Jeremain Lens, a one-time NUFC target is also back from injury and a boost for Allardyce. Young prospect Duncan Watmore is out with injury, as is their new signing Emmanuel Eboue. My NUFC XI:

Elliot Janmaat Mbemba Taylor Colback Sissoko Shelvey Wijnaldum Townsend Mitrovic Perez Thanks for reading, to debate and talk all things NUFC, follow my personal Twitter account @kierancarr_