The 30-year-old full-back spent four seasons with the Australian striker at Leeds before heading off to Spain, and is relishing a reunion with him and fellow former Elland Road stars Alan Smith and James Milner as Newcastle make the shot trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Harte made his first start for the Black Cats in Monday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester City, and is hoping to retain his place as the Wearsiders attempt to gain revenge for their 4-1 defeat in the corresponding fixture two seasons ago.

However, whether or not his name is among the 11 manager Roy Keane writes on the team sheet, he will give his colleagues a full run-down on the fit-again striker he knows from experience can be a real threat.

Harte said: "It is quite possible he will play, so I will speak with the lads tomorrow.

"A player like him, you cannot try to fight him, you cannot try to wrestle him because he is so strong.

"If you do that, he is the only one who will win the ball. You just have to try to read it and get as tight as you can because he is a quality player.

"If you give him half a chance and he will stick it in the back of the goal."

Harte's comments came as he and team-mate Anthony Stokes attended a special workshop at Houghton Kepier Sports College in Sunderland as part of the Creating Chances initiative.

They helped Year Nine pupils design stickers for a project focusing on the benefits of team-work, something Harte knows will be vital from his side this weekend.

He said: "Newcastle have got a big squad and some very good players.

"Whether it is Michel Owen who is playing or Obafemi Martins up front, you have to be careful of the ball in behind because they are lightning quick.

"But there are players like Alan Smith and James Milner, who I played with as well.

"It is going to be a great game, but with us playing at home and 48,000 fans backing us, hopefully they can be the 12th man and get behind us and spur us on to getting those three points we desperately need."

Sunderland head into the game looking for a first win in six attempts in the league, a run which has brought them just two points, while the Magpies have lost their last two, including Saturday's 4-1 humiliation by Portsmouth at St James' Park.

Harte admits the points rather than the style in which they set about achieving them will be all that matters after a series of near misses in recent weeks.

He said: "Any game is a big game, but this one more so because it is a derby and we are playing at home.

"We need to pick up points as quickly as we can, and it would be a perfect start for us if we could do that on Saturday.

"There have been games recently where we have played well and haven't picked up the points.

"The most important thing is we try to keep a clean sheet and hopefully big Kenwyne (Jones) up front, or whoever it may be, can get us a goal."

The Black Cats could be boosted by the inclusion of long-term absentees Carlos Edwards and Andy Cole in the squad, although Keane will make a late decision on both men.