Sunderland and Newcastle will go head-to-head for the first time in eight years after a mouth-watering FA Cup third-round draw.
The Black Cats will host the Magpies at the Stadium of Light in one of the stand-out third round ties.
The game will take place on the weekend of Saturday, January 6, but will almost certainly be one of the ties selected for TV coverage.
It will be the first Wear-Tyne derby since 2016, when the sides drew 1-1 in the Premier League, and the first time the rivals have met in a domestic cup competition since 1979.
The tie will fall after a home game against Preston for Sunderland and a trip to Liverpool for Newcastle.
READ MORE:
Newcastle are hoping to avoid another third round exit after their defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last year, while Sunderland lost in a replay to Fulham at the fourth round stage.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will host Premier League side Aston Villa in the third round. It’s a tough draw but Boro will be hoping to fare better than they did against Brighton at the same stage last season, when Albion won 5-1 at the Riverside.
Boro and Newcastle still have hopes of success in the Carabao Cup, with Michael Carrick’s side facing Port Vale in the quarter final later this month and the Magpies heading for Chelsea.