Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has told the 'devilish' Aleksandar Mitrovic to keep his temper in check for Sunday's trip to bitter rivals Sunderland.

Mitrovic, 21, will get his first taste of a North-East derby at the Stadium of Light, but their £13m summer signing was previously sent off twice for Anderlecht in Belgian derbies with Club Brugge - one of which was for a headbutt.

The Serbian has already been red-carded in the Premier League after going off within 16 minutes of the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal in August, but McClaren says that the fiery striker has learnt from his mistakes.

"We are well aware of his disciplinary record," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "But he has shown a level of maturity in the last three games.

"We knew there was a bit of the devil and that has added to our game. We need that but we need control and that is the key on Sunday. There is always a fine dividing line, always fine."

Sunderland have won the last five meetings with their neighbours.