Michael Carrick knows first hand what a buzz football can bring to the north east, but Manchester United will be out to heap more misery on Sunderland fans at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
The 35-year-old was born in Wallsend before starting his career at West Ham.
Sunderland are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and north east neighbours Middlesbrough are also battling to stay up, while Newcastle look set to secure a swift return to the top flight.
Carrick said in an interview with MUTV: 'It is such a football-orientated place that if a team, for example Newcastle, are doing well then the whole place is buzzing and when they're not, there is that down feeling around the place.