Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has admitted he is looking forward to experiencing his first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby, with Sunderland visiting St. James’ Park tomorrow.

The two clubs last met in the FA Cup in 2024, when Sunderland were in the Championship, with Newcastle running out 3-0 winners.

Howe says he has been aware of the fierce rivalry since taking charge of Newcastle and is now ready to experience it first-hand.

“The biggest stick I ever had was doing the Great North Run. I got abused by 50% of the people there. I’ve had a few little bits from people, but nothing too much to write home about at this moment in time,” Howe said.

“Having not been in the city for a couple of days is probably a good thing in preparation for this game!“

“I was aware of the rivalry before, but I think it’s very different when you’re seeing it from afar versus actually living it yourself. I’d seen many derbies on TV, and you can sense there’s an intense rivalry there. That’s a great thing for the game — I love that — and I think it’s one of the things that makes football so special. But when you’re here, you realise it’s even more than you thought from the outside. It’ll be great to experience it in a league game.”

Howe also reflected on the significance of such high-profile matches:

“I look at these games as positives. I want to experience the biggest games possible. You want to throw yourself into the biggest challenges, and I think this game will be one that we’ll always remember — hopefully for the right reasons, hopefully because someone has made the difference and created a memorable moment for our supporters. That’s what we’re chasing. We want to do them proud and make sure we represent them in the right way.”