The hotly-anticipated contest at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 12:45pm) will be the first game between the two sides since 2016 and sees Eddie Howe's Magpies go in search of a first victory of 2024.

United will be backed by a sizeable away following on Wearside as Howe's charges bid to write their own piece of Magpies folklore and secure a first derby day victory since 2011.

Newcastle's players were busy preparing for the tie at their Benton training centre on Thursday morning - and Serena Taylor was there to capture these images for nufc.co.uk.