Middlesbrough vs Newcastle
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will be at odds with former England team-mate Alan Shearer when the pair meet in a do-or-die battle at St James` Park on Monday night.Shearer, who took on the task of dragging Newcastle out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone last month, admitted on Thursday the latest Tyne-Tees derby is the biggest game of even his illustrious career.
But while victory for the Magpies would take them out of the bottom three after Hull's home defeat by Stoke, Southgate insists the crucial contest is only the most important because it is the next one.
Full-back Andrew Taylor returns to Boro`s squad after recovering from a hip flexor problem.
However, skipper Emanuel Pogatetz will miss the rest of the season with the knee injury which has sidelined him for the last four games, and Chris Riggott (ankle) is also still out.
Southgate said: "It's pointless going back to games you have played in the past.
"You would have to question whether this is bigger than the game where we had waited 128 years to win a trophy - you have to question whether it is bigger than a European final.
"But, because it's the next game and the task ahead of us is to stay in the league, yes it is - but last week's was and next week's will be.
"There's a sense of perspective in that. We love to hype matches - this obviously has tremendous importance for both teams, and other teams at the bottom of the table, but there are still two more games to play after it.
"If we win, we still need other results to get ourselves over the line."
Southgate and Shearer won 120 England caps between them, many of them together, and were part of the team which came agonisingly close to reaching the final of Euro '96, with the defender missing the crucial penalty in the semi-final shoot-out with Germany.
Southgate then captained Boro to Carling Cup glory in 2004, and led them out out for the UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven two seasons later.
However, while the prize at stake in the remaining three games of the campaign might be more modest - at least in non-financial terms - he has ordered his players to relish the challenge.
He said: "It's very difficult to put into that context, really, because they are chances to win something and be part of history that will be forever remembered by your supporters.
"This is a different sort of challenge. But the one thing I would say is you should relish that challenge."
Newcastle defender Habib Beye has urged his Newcastle team-mates to adopt Shearer's winning mentality to hand the manager a first victory just when he needs it most.
Joey Barton begins his three-match suspension after being sent off at Liverpool on Sunday, while Alan Smith is a major doubt with a thigh problem.
Left-back Jose Enrique is struggling to shake off his hamstring injury, but central defender Steven Taylor (ankle) has returned to training after two games on the sidelines and could figure.
The Magpies face their derby rivals knowing a first three-point haul since February 7 would lift them above Hull on goal difference and out of the relegation zone with just two games to play.
They are equally well aware that the alternative is simply not an option, and Beye knows the time has come to deliver a maiden victory in six attempts for Shearer.
Beye said: "He is still strong, when he is playing with us in training, he is still really strong, and he is a winner.
"You can see when he plays all the small games sometimes with us, he wants to win every game, and that's the mentality we must have.
"He has done a great job for us with [assistant] Iain Dowie. I believe we will stay in the Premier League and I hope for the club he will stay next year and bring something good for the next year."
Shearer's continued presence on Tyneside - he has insisted all along that his return to St James' would last just eight games, although there is a growing feeling he is ready to commit himself for a longer period - will depend on a series of factors, although relegation or otherwise may not be one of them.
But in the short term, the only focus is on avoiding a drop which would have been unthinkable just a few years ago as the home-grown talisman led the fight for honours on the pitch.
And a derby win would at least give the club the springboard they so desperately need.
Shearer said: "It would be massive, without a doubt. It would give everyone a huge lift confidence-wise, belief-wise."
