Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has insisted that he is ready to "die on the pitch" in order to defeat Sunderland on Sunday.

The Ivory Coast international, 25, has also refused to change his combative style.

"We have to win every tackle. If we have to die on the pitch to win, we have to die on the pitch. That is what we have to do to win the game," Tiote told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

"If you get a yellow card, you get one. It cannot stop me from playing the game in my style."

Tiote joined the Magpies from Twente in 2010.