Source: PA
Turner primed for Tyne-Wear derby
Sunderland defender Michael Turner is relishing the biggest derby test of his career to date.
The 26-year-old has contested local rivalries before, but admits Sunday's Tyne-Wear showdown between the Black Cats and Newcastle at St James' Park will be an entirely new experience.
Turner was in the Brentford side which beat League One Luton twice in three meetings, including an FA Cup third round tie, during the 2004-05 season, and came out on top in both of Hull's Coca-Cola Championship encounters with Scunthorpe in 2007-08.
However, he admits all of that pales into relative insignificance compared to this weekend's derby.
He said: "They are minor compared to this one, but even in those games you can sense a different kind of feeling in the game and the atmosphere around the place.
"Brentford v Luton and Hull v Scunthorpe - the battle of the Humber that was - again, they were nothing really compared to this, but on their day it was quite feisty on and off the pitch. Obviously, this one on a totally different scale, is going to be special."
