Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole has warned his team-mates that Newcastle's off-field problems will not necessarily benefit the Black Cats. Having played in Sunderland's 5-1 thumping at St James' Park last season and looked on as they scraped a draw at the death in the return, Cattermole is convinced they can take nothing for granted this time around.
He said: "All their lads are all footballers, it doesn't matter what's going on at the club.
"Sunderland is a much healthier and much more stable club at the minute, but I don't think that really counts for anything when it comes to derby day.
"They have got a squad of players who are all good players and we have got a good team as well and when it kicks off, it's that fast and furious, you maybe need a little bit of luck and you need eight out of the 11 to have good performances, and they will be needing the same.
"It's as simple as that, really. Hopefully with the lads we have brought in and the experience, and the experiences of last season, we will be able to go out and put a better performance in this year."
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