Newcastle United defender Davide Santon believes that there is more rivalry between his side and Sunderland than there is between the two Milan clubs.

The 21-year-old has competed in the Milan derby for Inter Milan but after playing in the second of last season's Tyne-Wear derbies, he has insisted that the match between the two North-East outfits carries greater importance.

Santon told BBC Newcastle: "The Milan derby is a very important game but not like this one.

"Here there is more rivalry, everybody thinks about the game, it's fantastic."

Santon has made 35 appearances for Newcastle since he joined the club in August 2011.