Yohan Cabaye was left in no doubt as to the importance of the Tyne-Wear derby on the day he signed for Newcastle. The 26-year-old France international will run out against Sunderland once again on Sunday, having made his second competitive appearance for the Magpies in a 1-0 victory over the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light in August. However, he had been taught his first lesson in north-east football politics long before a ball was kicked in anger.
Cabaye said: "When I signed, someone told me straight away about Sunderland, and said, 'There are only two games in the season you can't lose: Sunderland away and Sunderland at home'. "Everybody at the club speaks about the derby, and I know it will be a special match and a special day for everyone.
"We are ready." Cabaye already had derby experience under his belt when he opted to ply his trade in the Barclays Premier League having played for Lille against Lens in France. However, he admits the battle for north-east supremacy is a completely different affair. He said: "In France, we don't have this sort of game. We have derbies, but not as big as here. "That's why I came here, to play in big games every week in full stadiums with big crowds and atmospheres. "It's good to have a big rivalry between two clubs. At Lille, I used to play against Lens in a derby, and it's good for players to play those sort of games.
"I won my first derby - I hope I win the second." That will be easier said than done with Sunderland themselves in good form despite last weekend's shock 4-0 reverse at West Brom, and Cabaye is well aware of the threat posed by one man in particular, former Paris St Germain striker Stephane Sessegnon. He said: "I used to play against him. He is a very, very good player. "He is the big danger in Sunderland's team, so we have to be focussed on him, and it will be up to Cheick [Tiote] and me to stop him.
"They have many good players as well, but Stephane, I think, is the one." The Magpies will head into the game having been handed a major boost by the news that skipper Fabricio Coloccini and keeper Tim Krul have signed new long-term deals. The club announced on Saturday that Argentinian Coloccini has agreed a four-year contract, while Holland international Krul has put pen to paper on a five-year extension. Meanwhile, Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback goes into the derby battle determined to repay a debt.
The Black Cats set off for St James' Park in October 2010 with high hopes of securing their first victory there for almost a decade, but found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-1 demolition job as Kevin Nolan's hat-trick and a double from Shola Ameobi sealed a famous victory for the Magpies. They will return on Sunday once again in confident mood after a good run of form - barring last weekend's 4-0 drubbing at West Brom - but well aware that confidence alone will not get the job done.
Colback was not part of the side on duty that day, although the memories are no less painful as a result, and he did play when Newcastle doubled the dose by winning at the Stadium of Light in August. The 22-year-old said:
"Obviously, it was a very disappointing result and one we want to try to chalk off. "But it was a completely different team back then and a different manager, and it's not one we are thinking about at all. "We are very confident going into it. Obviously, they beat us at the Stadium of Light, so we owe them one. "But we have not got to treat like a revenge mission. We as players have got to treat it like any other game and just go into it with the same mentality. "We know how important it is for the fans and how big it is for the fans, and it is not something we will take lightly. "But we have got to just try to play the game and not the occasion."
Newcastle V Sunderland - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: PA
