Geordie Newcastle United player responds to FA Cup third round draw v Sunderland

Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett has reacted to the FA Cup third round draw against Sunderland.

The Magpies visit the Stadium of Light in the first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 when Aleksandar Mitrovic cancelled out Jermaine Defoe's opener in a 1-1 draw at St James' Park.

The fortunes of the two clubs have changed dramatically since then. Newcastle were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the same season but bounced back at the first attempt.

Sunderland dropped out of the top flight 12 months later before falling into League One, where they spent four seasons. They returned to the second tier in 2022 and by that point, Newcastle had been taken over by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia-led consortium,

Since getting free of Mike Ashley in October 2021, United have gone from battling relegation to qualifying for the Champions League under Eddie Howe

Rivalries renew at the Stadium of Light on the first weekend of January, and Geordie defender Dummet can't wait for the occasion.

After the draw was made, Dummett posted on Instagram: "Didn't think this weekend could get any better"

The 32-year-old is one of two players in the current squad to have played in a Tyne-Wear derby, the other is captain Jamaal Lascelles.

United's last victory against the Black Cats was in August 2011 when Ryan Taylor's famously scored a free-kick.