MOUSSA SISSOKO has urged his Newcastle United team-mates to atone for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup capitulation at Tottenham when they entertain local rivals Sunderland this weekend.

Newcastle’s hopes of a Wembley appearance were brutally crushed at White Hart Lane as a rampant Spurs cruised to a 4-0 win that could have been even more emphatic.

The defeat, which followed hot on the heels of another four-goal humbling at Arsenal four days earlier, reopened some of the wounds that were apparent in the first two months of the season and increased the pressure ahead of the first derby game of the season.

Newcastle have suffered 3-0 defeats in their last two home matches with Sunderland, and Sissoko accepts it is imperative there is a positive response to recent setbacks when rivalries are renewed on Sunday.

“We know Sunday is a big game for us and for the city,” said the Magpies midfielder, who is available to face Sunderland despite picking up a knock in the second half at White Hart Lane. “You have to forget the 4-0 defeat against Tottenham and try to be ready for the Sunderland match because it is massive for us.

“We will be ready for Sunday and we know that we haven’t been good enough in the recent games against them. Every derby we aim to win. We lost last time, but Sunday is another game and we will try to win it and play well.

“I can assure the supporters we know what it means. Every player is ready. We had Thursday off, but come Friday, we will be working on it. We will be focused and ready for the match because it is massive.”

Sissoko’s role could be pivotal to Sunday’s outcome, with the France international having been one of Newcastle’s key performers during their recent winning run.

He was asked to play in a deep-lying midfield role on Wednesday, but with Cheick Tiote poised to return at the weekend, he is likely to find himself pushed further forward against Sunderland.

That could mean him being shuffled into a wide position to accommodate both Papiss Cisse and Ayoze Perez in the starting line-up, although his most effective performances in a Newcastle shirt have tended to come when he has been played down the middle as the chief support to a lone centre-forward.

“For me, my best position is in the middle,” said Sissoko. “But after the manager decides if I play centre-midfield or right or left, I work hard at it.

“For me, my favourite position is in the centre because it allows me to run the line and move forward quickly. That’s my best position and where I feel that I am playing my best football.

“Maybe I have been playing some of my best football, but it is because the rest of the team are too. They are helping me out. I will do my best for the team on Sunday to try and win the game.”

On Wednesday, Newcastle’s best efforts were in vain as they were comprehensively outplayed by a Spurs side who can now look forward to a League Cup semi-final against Sheffield United.

The Magpies’ wait for a major trophy goes on, and now stretches beyond the 40-year mark, and Sissoko admits there was a sense of deep disappointment as another opportunity of glory slipped away.

“It’s sad,” he said. “We tried to win the game, but we were playing against a very good Tottenham team. Now it is over and we have to think about the next game on Sunday.”