The Magpies make the short trip to the Stadium of Light ahead of a first English top-flight meeting with their North east neighbours since March 2016 and a first encounter between the two sides since Newcastle's 3-0 win in the Emirates FA Cup third round in January 2024.

With attention now fully devoted towards this weekend's highly-anticipated clash, following Wednesday night's 2-2 draw away at Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League, Howe is hopeful of instilling the importance of the fixture into his squad in the upcoming days as the Magpies aim to record a first Premier League victory over the Black Cats since August 2011.

Here are some of the boss' main talking points ahead of the 158th Tyne-Wear derby, held at the BayArena on Wednesday...

On the significance of the game...

"My first communication to the players on the derby was tonight (after the Bayer Leverkusen game). We can't take our focus away from our next game so the build-up to this game was all about this game and it has to be.

"As soon as the game ends and we focus on the next one, we knew the importance of this game. I had to make that clear to all of the players.

"There will be some new players who maybe don't understand it as well as others so we'll use whatever methods we can in the next few days to make sure that everyone enters the pitch fully aware of the importance."

On facing Sunderland, who remain unbeaten on home soil in the Premier League so far this term...

"It will be difficult. I think these games always are because there's a lot of emotion and challenges for the players to overcome to make sure we enter the pitch in the right frame of mind and where we absolutely need to be, which is focussed on how we play and what we need to do.

"The arousal levels are absolutely key because you can be too high or too low. I don't think there will be many too low in preparation for this game but finding that place where the players play at their best is my challenge.

"Of course, you don't want the players to overthink things. It's a very important game but we've got to focus on our performance so all of these things will be important."

On the task of delivering success for the city...

"It's always about the team but you're aware of your individual responsibilities. It means everything to me personally. I want to do the club, the city and our people proud.

"I want them to be proud of the team and players so that's my challenge over the next few days."