Regis Le Bris: Sunderland coach says ‘Middlesbrough is not our real derby’

While Le Bris samples this fixture for the first time, it will be a fourth Wear-Tees derby for Carrick.

He has won one, drawn one and lost one of the previous three, with the victory coming at the Stadium of Light last October in a 4-0 win.

As a native of the North East, the former Manchester United and England midfielder needs no introduction to what Saturday’s encounter means in the region.

With a crowd of over 41,000 expected at the Stadium of Light, he wants his players to feed off what is always a special occasion.

“We’re all excited,” he told BBC Radio Tees. “These types of games bring an extra little something to the day, to the preparation, and to the emotion in the game.

“We’ve got a job to do and we’ve got to keep our minds in a good place, but certainly you have to draw on the passion and the emotion and channel it in the right way.

“Sunderland away is a great challenge, but one the boys are relishing.”