Newcastle Hub: Newcastle United v Sunderland: Tyne-Wear Derby NUFC Video Preview

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Newcastle United host Sunderland at St James’ Park in the Tyne-Wear derby three days after going out of the Europa League to Benfica at the quarter-final stage.

Alan Pardew's team eased their own relegation worries last weekend as Papiss Cisse's last-gasp winner against Fulham sparked wild celebrations and gave Newcastle some breathing space for the final few games.

A win over Sunderland will take Newcastle further away from the relegation zone and increase Paolo Di Canio’s side’s worries with games running out in the Premier League season.

They have been in good form at home in recent weeks and produced a spirited against Benfica in the Europa League.

The St James' Park faithful were in good voice in midweek and will be hoping to roar their team on to victory against local rivals Sunderland, although there has been a warning from police to keep their hostility within the law.

Steven Taylor is winning his fitness battle for Newcastle after missing their Europa League clash with Benfica due to a minor knee problem.

Hatem Ben Arfa returned from injury with a lively cameo performance off the substitutes' bench against Benfica and has declared himself ready to play some part in Sunday's derby.

Yoan Gouffran is set to return after being ineligible in midweek, but Fabricio Coloccini (back), Davide Santon and Cheick Tiote (both hamstring) are still out.

New Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio will be without suspended midfielder Craig Gardner for the trip to Teesside.

Gardner collected his 10th booking of the season during last weekend's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Chelsea and will sit out the game at St James' Park and Everton's visit to the Stadium of Light.

Di Canio will hope for better news of defender Carlos Cuellar (ankle) and striker Danny Graham (knee), who have trained this week, although frontman Connor Wickham is a doubt with an unspecified knock picked up at Stamford Bridge.

The first match between the sides this season ended in stalemate as Demba Ba's late own goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for Sunderland after Yohan Cabaye had opened the scoring for Newcastle, who then had Cheick Tiote sent off in the 25th minute.

Check out our special Tyne-Wear derby page with all the build up and banter ahead of the game at St James' Park.