Sunderland are now set to appoint their new manager ahead of facing Newcastle

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Newcastle United are now very close to knowing exactly who the Sunderland manager will be when the two sides meet in the FA Cup next month.

There is set to be a Tyne-Wear derby for the first time since 2016 in January, with Newcastle United drawn against bitter rivals Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup.

The game will take place at the Stadium Of Light on January 6th, with various Toon players expressing how ecstatic they are to be playing in a derby. The feeling is mutual over the water, with Sunderland’s players equally as excited.

They will have a new manager by the time the Tyne-Wear derby comes around, with Tony Mowbray losing his job on Wearside earlier this month.

He was sacked, and there were reports that Will Still was in line to replace him. However, Sunderland are now expected to appoint someone else.

Michael Beale to be Sunderland manager when they face Newcastle next month

According to the Athletic, Sunderland are expected to appoint Michael Beale as their new head coach.

They state that the Black Cats are in advanced talks with Beale, who looks to be braced to take over at the Stadium Of Light. The Athletic add that his first game in charge is likely to be against Coventry City next weekend, which will mean his fifth game as boss will be the derby against Newcastle.

What Alan Shearer previously said about Michael Beale

The 43-year-old was previously part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff at Rangers and Aston Villa, while he has since gone on to become a manager himself. He got the QPR job in 2022, before moving to Rangers later that year.

Beale was sacked by the Glasgow giants back in October, being relieved of his duties after less than a year.

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer did not have much sympathy for Beale after his Rangers departure.

He said on The Rest Is Football podcast: “You know Gary that there are two clubs who have to fight for the title up there. They are seven points behind and already lost three games and that is not acceptable up in Scotland with Celtic or Rangers. It didn’t come as a huge surprise to me.”

Tyne-Wear derby looms for new Sunderland boss

One of Beale’s first jobs will be preparing his team for the derby, which takes place at the beginning of next month.

He will take on Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, who beat his Rangers side earlier this year in a friendly at Ibrox.

Sunderland will have home advantage, while their recent record in derbies is much better than ours. We have not beaten Sunderland since 2011, back when Ryan Taylor scored that famous free kick.

Newcastle fans will hope to crown a new cult hero on January 6th, as they prepare for the first Tyne-Wear derby in almost eight years.