Eddie Howe has opened up on the importance of Newcastle’s homegrown core as the club prepare to face North-East rivals Sunderland for the first time in seven years.
This weekend’s FA Cup third round will feature the first Tyne-Wear Derby since 2016, as Newcastle travel to face Sunderland for the first time since the latter’s top-flight relegation.

 
It will be a first experience of this fixture for the vast majority of Howe’s squad, and the Newcastle boss believes the club’s homegrown core will be a big benefit ahead of the occasion.
Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn, Lewis Miley and Paul Dummett are among the local players well versed in the history of the rivalry.
“I think you need that within your team ideally,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.
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