Newcastle United defender Davide Santon believes the rivalry between his club and Sunderland is fiercer than between Inter and Milan.

The 21-year-old left the Nerazzurri to join the Magpies in 2011, and is of the opinion that the Tyne-Wear match-up is bigger than the Derby Della Madonnina.

“The Milan Derby is a very important game,” he told BBC Newcastle. “But not like this one. Here there is more rivalry, everybody thinks about the game. It’s fantastic.

“It’s an important game, that we have to concentrate on and make sure we win. I played the second game [last season], it was fantastic.

Alan Pardew’s side face their near-neighbours on Sunday, with the Italy international expected to make his eighth start of the season.