Its Wonderful 144th Tyne-Wear derby between rivals Newcastle and Sunderland on Sunday has a lot more riding on it than just local bragging rights.,Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is hopeful of having central defender last weekend's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Chelsea.
While Sunderland's chances of heading to the Championship next season are greater than Newcastle's, the latter would want to be careful and make every post a winner - beginning with their age-old rivals this weekend.And Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of being knocked out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage by Benfica on Thursday.
Alan men have not been in the greatest of form recently either, winning just one of their last five matches in all competitions - a period which included three consecutive losses to strugglers.
The derby clashes are always hotly contested but this weekend's clash is sure to have more spice added with reports Newcastle fans intend to target Di Canio by taunting him.
While Sunderland's chances of heading to the Championship next season are greater than Newcastle's, the latter would want to be careful and make every post a winner - beginning with their age-old rivals this weekend.And Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of being knocked out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage by Benfica on Thursday.
Alan men have not been in the greatest of form recently either, winning just one of their last five matches in all competitions - a period which included three consecutive losses to strugglers.
The derby clashes are always hotly contested but this weekend's clash is sure to have more spice added with reports Newcastle fans intend to target Di Canio by taunting him.
