Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew admits speaking with his players about keeping their nerve ahead of the derby with Sunderland.

Steven Taylor once said that no Sunderland player would get in Newcastle's side and has been a target of supporters who once sang, 'Steven Taylor, we wish you were dead'.

Taylor, who was sent off in his last home game against Chelsea, has already been called into the manager's office for a quiet word.

"I will be looking at one or two who maybe get emotionally involved," said Pardew.

"Probably the one who worries me the most is Steven Taylor. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he plays like that sometimes in this fixture.

"I've spoken to him about it. I think this time around he will be a lot calmer and if he plays he will be in better shape (to deal with the emotion)."