Sunderland vs Newcastle United: Early Tyne-Wear derby team news ahead of December clash
Newcastle United take on rivals Sunderland in mid-December, but who is in danger of missing the huge clash?
There’s plenty of football to be played in the meantime, but attention will already be turning to the massive Tyne-Wear derby clash between Sunderland and Newcastle United.
The Magpies travel to the Stadium of Light on 14th December for the first Premier League clash between the two sides since 2017, with a fiery clash and atmosphere a given. But first, both sides must focus on what’s in front of them. Sunderland are seventh in the table after a fantastic start, but have a tough run against Bournemouth at home and both Liverpool and Manchester City away before they can think about Newcastle - and those fixtures come off the back of a three-game winless run, with 1-1 draws against Everton and Arsenal, and a 1-0 loss to Fulham.
Eddie Howe’s men, meanwhile, sit 14th in the Premier League table and have some catching up to do, with a trip to Everton and home fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley to contend with before heading 15 miles south to Sunderland. That’s not forgetting a crucial clash away against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, with Newcastle still needing results to confirm passage to the knockout rounds after a 2-1 defeat to Marseille. Plenty could change with both squads between now and mid-December, but there are already some key pieces of team news that will influence the line-ups on Wearside.
Sunderland
Habib Diarra
Habib Diarra has been out of action since September with a groin injury, missing eight Premier League matches and counting as a result. However, the midfielder is closing in on his return to action. Diarra is yet to return to outdoor training, but has been doing well in the gym and could return in a couple of weeks - which would see him make the squad against Newcastle, right before jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
“He’s [Diarra] doing well.” said Le Bris. “His rehab process is positive at the minute. He’s pain free and he feels really good. But we still have a period, even if you feel good, where you know that you need time to recover inside.”
Aji Alese
Aji Alese hasn’t played a competitive match since the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Stoke City way back in September due to a combination of leg and shoulder injuries. He’s expected back sometime in December, but making the squad against Newcastle would be ambitious, especially given how many setbacks he’s suffered on his way back to fitness. Elsewhere, the likes of Leo Hjelde, Romaine Mundle and Dennis Cirkin should all be back available for the visit of Newcastle.
Newcastle United
Yoane Wissa
Yoane Wissa still hasn’t made his Newcastle United debut since joining the club from Brentford over the summer to help replace Alexander Isak. In his absence, fellow new arrival Nick Woltemade has performed well so far, notching six goals in 16 appearances across all competitions. However, Wissa finally looks set to return from his posterior cruciate ligament injury, with Howe revealing the striker is ‘close’ without confirming a specific date.
“I haven't got a clear, defined return date for you,” Howe said on Wissa. “He's working well, so he's not back training with us yet, but he's close. “He's working with the sports scientists. He's in that phase, sort of moved past his physios. He's now back with the sports science team, and he's also almost entering a pre-season with them currently.
“He's doing a lot of work. He's looking good, looking better with every session. And as I say, he's close to training with us. But until he gets to there, it's very difficult to give you a date.” Further reports have suggested Wissa could be fit in time to make the squad against Sunderland.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.
Kieran Trippier
Kieran Trippier missed the fixtures against Manchester City and Marseille with what was initially thought to be a minor hamstring injury. However, the strain that was picked up last Friday is understood to be more serious than first thought, with a three or four-week absence now expected.
The high end of that estimate would see Trippier sidelined for at least another seven matches, with the away trip to Manchester United on Boxing Day his expected date of return. That would see the former England international miss the trip to Everton, as well as the fixtures against Tottenham (H), Burnley (H), Leverkusen (A, Champions League), Sunderland (A), Fulham (H, EFL Cup) and Chelsea (H).
Should Trippier’s length of absence be closer to three weeks, there is a slim chance he could return to the squad at the Stadium of Light.
William Osula
Danish forward William Osula was a late withdrawal from the squad for Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Athletic Club in the Champions League earlier in November, subsequently missing the fixtures against Brentford, Man City and Marseille due to an ankle injury. Howe revealed that Osula will see a specialist on Monday to further assess the issue and that he won’t be in action across the ‘next couple of games’.
While the boss didn’t give a specific date of return, that would assumedly rule him out against Everton and Tottenham, with his participation thereafter hinging on the outcome of the specialist’s opinion.