FA Premiership / Newcastle v Sunderland: Shortly before he disappeared into the gym for Mick McCarthy's compulsory boxing session, Tommy Miller was asked to describe exactly what sort of Sunderland fan he is. "Diehard" was Miller's reply.

It was said with a smile, as were most of the answers from this 26-year-old midfielder. Sunderland's mood is good.

Born in the pit village of Shotton Colliery, Miller began at Hartlepool United before moving to Ipswich Town for four years, and he has the native's understanding of what a Tyne-Wear derby means. It is a fixture that runs through the north-east of Enfland like a seam and Miller was only half-joking when he said of tomorrow's high-tension affair: "It's not a matter of life or death, but it's not too far off."

There has been a scramble for tickets for the Miller family, in itself a sign that Sunderland fans feel that, despite only one win this season, a second is not unthinkable. McCarthy pointed out this week that Middlesbrough fans gave Sunderland no chance last month before Miller opened the scoring in the second minute to set the Wearsiders on their way to a momentous 2-0 victory.

This, though, is the fervent north-east derby, a fact Miller has had drummed into him almost from the day he was born in January 1979. Six weeks later, Miller has been constantly reminded, the Sunderland-born Gary Rowell scored a hat-trick at St James' Park to give Sunderland a 4-1 win still cherished by the Wear.

"Yeah, I was told that story when I was younger," said Miller. "He (Rowell) did get mentioned a few times. I'm looking forward to it. I went to a couple when I was younger but I didn't go to St James' because my dad said it would be too dangerous.

"As a fan, the derby's about enjoyment, excitement and I couldn't wait for it to come around really. For a fan it's massive and to have a chance of playing in one, I want the chance to take it all in.

"As soon as the fixtures come out, 'where's Newcastle v Sunderland?' As long as we win then it doesn't matter, that's how some fans think. A lot has been made of me being local, and I'm a diehard Sunderland fan, but I used to want all the north-east teams to do well. Dare I say it, Boro and Newcastle as well."

That magnanimity will not be too evident tomorrow. Sunderland's self-esteem has improved markedly since that day at Middlesbrough but Newcastle's is low. Though Miller stressed Newcastle "should not be underestimated" - and recalled how on his sole St James' appearance for Ipswich he was "dragged" at half-time by George Burley as Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick - the visitors give the impression that they sense a chance.

"We will try to be positive," McCarthy said. "I think what would disappoint our fans would be if we went with one man up front, never had a shot at goal, which can happen, and got beaten. If you have a real negative frame of mind then that will rub on to the players and that could be trouble. We will have a go."

Miller's attitude suggested that he will be prominent in Sunderland's challenge.

"They are having a rocky time of it," he said of Newcastle, before getting on the front foot and heading for the punchbags.

Guardian Service