Sunday afternoon’s action from St James’s Park sees Newcastle United face Sunderland in one of the most eagerly anticipated Tyne-Wear derbies of all time.

The two sides are currently separated by just one point in favour of the Black Cats, who also have a superior goal difference.

The hosts begin the weekend in nineteenth place having lost nine of their last twelve league games, including their last four in a row and another defeat here would deal a huge blow to their hopes of survival.

Injuries haven’t helped them, and they currently sit top of the table in terms of players unavailable to them though Pappis Cisse and Chancel Mbemba could both return to the fold here.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is favourite to get the first goal of the game at 7.0 (6/1) with Georginio Wijnaldum an 8.5 (15/2) shot with a number of firms.

The home win is 2.2 (6/5) with William Hill, with the visitors as highly priced as the 3.9 (29/10) on offer from Bet 365. The draw is widely available at 3.4 (12/5).

Sam Allardyce’s side have lose just one of their last five league games, but only one of those matches have ended in victory so they remain well in trouble and they could be in the bottom three come kick off, depending on Norwich City’s result at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon.

Unlike their rivals, Sunderland are almost at full strength with Jeremain Lens and Lee Cattermole are both back in training, as is Jermain Defoe.

The England international is 8.0 (7/1) to open the scoring with Paddy Power with Dame N’Doye a 10.0 (9/1) chance with the same firm.

Sunderland have won the last four meetings between the sides without conceding, a run while includes a 3-0 triumph in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light back in October and a 1-0 win in last season’s corresponding fixture.

An away win to nil this time around can be backed at a price of 6.5 (11/2) with several firms.