'I smashed my pal in Tyne-Wear Derby - I had a job to do and put friendship aside'

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Danny Simpson has revealed that he once clattered Danny Welbeck in a 50/50 challenge during a Tyne-Wear Derby , after setting their close friendship to one side. The Manchester United academy graduate enjoyed a loan stint with Sunderland AFC in 2007 before switching allegiances, joining Newcastle United on a permanent basis three years later.

Never one to duck a big occasion, Simpson has now explained that during his time at St James' Park, he was once required to face up against a close friend in Welbeck . Welbeck embarked on his own loan stint with the Black Cats for 2010/11, and was selected to spearhead the attack by then boss Steve Bruce for the first derby of the campaign on Tyneside in October.

Simpson, meanwhile, formed part of Newcastle's defence alongside Jose Enrique, Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini . Newcastle ultimately ended up running riot with a 5-1 victory thanks to a Kevin Nolan hat-trick and a brace from Shola Ameobi - Darren Bent's stoppage time effort proving merely a consolation.

Yet it was a significant tackle on Welbeck during the contest that Simpson recalls in particular. Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Live via 7 bet online casino , the 39-year-old said: "I just hope the ref understands the game and lets a few go. Sometimes you've got to manage the occasion.

"You don't want to ruin that game by sending people off. I remember I had an incident with Welbeck in a 50/50 and he's my friend and I smashed him.

"And I knew I had to, do you know what I mean? Because the fans are there with you. So I just hope the ref understands that and lets a few go because it's what it means to everybody. It's a bit of passion and fight."

That memorable occasion represented the last time Newcastle managed to claim victory against their fiercest rivals, with Sunderland embarking on an impressive 10-match Premier League unbeaten run both home and away from March 2012 onward. It's a startling statistic that left Simpson astonished, particularly as he regards the Magpies as the superior club.

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He added: "Obviously when I heard the last time we beat them at St James, it was the game where I played 5-1, I was very, very surprised. Just because obviously generally I do think Newcastle is a bigger club, generally they've had better players.

"Yeah, I was very surprised. I've always said about Newcastle - Sunderland games, it's who turns up on the day. Sometimes with the pressure, you know - especially foreign players, if they've never played in this game before, they're going to be in for a shock.

"You can tell them as much as you want about what to expect, but even for me, I knew about the games on the English side...Until that morning, you wake up and you drive to the stadium and you just feel the tension in the atmosphere, the warm-up, until you feel like you just don't know what to expect.

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"So yeah, it's a massive game obviously for everyone involved. I've always said, you know, with friends and family, there's so much on the line and it's all anyone's thinking about. So I am surprised about that for Newcastle.

"Like I said on the day, it's who can handle the occasion and maybe who's in the best place at the time in terms of form. But no, the way I look at the moment, I'd say this is probably the best time for Newcastle to play Sunderland in terms of where the season has been for Sunderland and Newcastle."

Newcastle approach Sunday's 12pm encounter hoping to make amends for December's setback at the Stadium of Light , where they endured a 1-0 defeat thanks to Nick Woltemade's unfortunate own-goal. In stronger shape regarding form and squad fitness, the Magpies will be clear favourites to gain revenge over the Black Cats this weekend.

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