Dick Advocaat will welcome 'controller ' Lee Cattermole back to the heart of his Sunderland team as he attempts to launch another late survival bid with a record fifth successive derby victory . The 27-year-old enforcer has missed the last two games through suspension after reaching 10 bookings for the season , and that meant he was unavailable for the Dutchman 's first game in charge , a 1-0 defeat at West Ham on March 21 . However , Cattermole was the only man told he will definitely start against Newcastle on Sunday during Friday 's team meeting , and Advocaat is looking for a big response from a player who has once again missed a significant proportion of the campaign to date through injury . Dick Advocaat will welcome back Lee Cattermole after the midfielder missed the defeat to West Ham United . The Sunderland manager has confirmed that Cattermole will definitely start the game against Newcastle . He said : 'He was the only one I told at the team meeting this morning that he will play , so he knows . 'Definitely they missed him because he did not play for 10 or 11 games . He had 10 weeks out - that 's quite a long time . 'He is the controller of the team and a player with experience , so for the team it is good , not only as a player , but also as a person , that he 's back in the team . ' Cattermole 's return could hardly be more timely with Sunderland sitting just a point clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone with eight games to play and in desperate need of a repeat of their heroics at the end of last season if they are to avoid another desperate scrap for top-flight survival . Advocaat and coach Paul Bracewell discuss tactics during training ahead of the clash with Newcastle . Cattermole and his team-mates share a joke during training as they prepare to face their fiercest rivals . Former Middlesbrough and Wigan man Cattermole played his part in a remarkable escape 12 months ago , and while he insists the picture has not been as black as has been painted at times , he knows the time for action rather than talking has arrived . Cattermole said : 'We have n't played too badly all season , really . There 's been the odd bad performance which has killed us , but we just need to start getting over the line and winning some games . There 's not really much else to say on the matter . 'We need to get some confidence . We have n't hit a roll all season , we did at the end of last season . It 's always been a draw , a draw , then maybe a win , and we have never got anything going . Cattermole played his part in a remarkable escape from relegation for the Black Cats just 12 months ago . Cattermole has yet again missed large portions of Sunderland 's season through injury . 'This is a good time to maybe get something going and finish the season with a bit of a bang . ' Cattermole has played in two of Sunderland 's four consecutive wins over their neighbours , including the 1-0 victory at St James ' Park in December , and an extension of that record would send spirits soaring on Wearside . The Black Cats have never before enjoyed five wins on the trot over the Magpies , but while acknowledging the importance of the fixture , Advocaat - a veteran of the Old Firm derby as well as similar rivalries in Holland and Russia - is refusing to be distracted by the opposition this weekend . He said : 'It 's nice , but the past does n't count anymore . We do n't get more points because of the last four games . Will Buckley and some of the Sunderland squad share the ball around during a training session . Sunderland players battle for the ball as the Black Cat prepare of their clash against Newcastle United . Jermain Defoe teases the Sunderland players as he dummies a pass in training at the Academy of Light . 'We all know how important this is , it 's a special moment for everybody . But we are focused on the game and that we get the result we need . 'Every game for us is a special match . This , of course , because it 's Newcastle is special , but we still need points and we still have only eight games left , so in that way , it 's very important that we can show our fans that we really want to win . 'If we can get them behind us , it can be a very important weapon . ' While Advocaat has been boosted by Cattermole 's return , he will be without central defender Wes Brown , who faces up to a month on the sidelines with a knee injury . Cattermole will return , but defender Wes Brown will miss the clash as he recovers from a knee injury .
Lee Cattermole will return from suspension to face rivals Newcastle United United . Sunderland midfielder has missed the Black Cats last two matches . But , manager Dick Advocaat insists the midfielder will face Newcastle United . However , defender Wes Brown will miss the derby match through injury .