Battle of pride among northeast youngsters
Out of form Middlesbrough U23's will face Newcastle U23's in the Premier League Two division two, in a young northeast derby.
Newcastle come into the the game having won three of their last five games, whereas Middlesbrough have suffered defeat four times in their last five outings.
(Marcus Tavernier, Image Credit: Middlesbrough Football Club)
Boro U23s Head Coach Paul Stephenson returns to the ground where his career in the game started, working his way up the youth ranks on Tyneside and playing in the same youth team as Paul Gascoigne.
But tonight his focus is fully on developing the youth players. In their way stand a Newcastle United side that has found a little form and after a patchy run they have won their last two coming into tonight's game.
"We were beaten at home by Reading last Friday on the same night the First Team were winning at Hillsborough,
"We have played well in long spells of games, but we're not turning that into results right now,
"We go again tonight, the lads are looking forward to it, a few of them know each other of course, so that adds to it." Said Stephenson.
Middlesbrough will have players who've managed to gain much more first team experience compared to the Newcastle players however Boro are three positions behind Newcastle in the league as well as three points behind.
These two have come up against each other four times with both teams winning two out of four.
Kick-off tonight at St. James' is 7pm.