Big guns back for Newcastle

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton welcomed back his big guns as Sunderland counterpart Steve Bruce named an unchanged team for this afternoon’s derby clash.

Hughton restored the nine men he rested for Wednesday night’s Carling Cup defeat by Arsenal to the starting line-up, and there was a surprise place on the bench for defender Steven Taylor following his recovery from a shoulder injury.

Sunderland’s record signing Asamoah Gyan was once again named among the substitutes as Bruce kept faith with the men who fought out a 1-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend.

The home side went into the 143rd Tyne-Wear derby having lost only three of the 16 Barclays Premier League encounters between the two sides, although the Black Cats arrived defending a seven-game unbeaten league run.

Newcastle: Krul, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson, Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Carroll. Subs: Soderberg, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ranger.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Bramble, Turner, Onuoha, Henderson, Cattermole, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Welbeck, Bent. Subs: Gordon, Richardson, Mensah, Zenden, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Gyan.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)