SUNDERLAND will face Premier League opposition in the third round of the FA Cup after last night’s draw pitted them with fellow top-flight side Burnley.

In a relatively inviting draw for the North-East’s big three, Middlesbrough will also be at home as they entertain Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Newcastle United will be on their travels, as they were paired with Championship rivals Birmingham City for a game that will take place at St Andrew’s.

Sunderland’s game with Burnley means David Moyes’ side will be taking on the Clarets on successive weekends, with the FA Cup game due to take place on the weekend beginning Saturday, January 7. Seven days earlier, the Black Cats head to Turf Moor for a Premier League fixture.

The two sides last met in the FA Cup back in 1979, with Sunderland drawing at Burnley before suffering a 3-0 defeat in a replay at Roker Park.

Middlesbrough host Sheffield Wednesday, having done the double over the South Yorkshire club as they won promotion from the Championship last season.

Newcastle have not won an FA Cup game since they beat Blackburn Rovers in the third round in 2012, and Rafael Benitez’s side face a tricky task at the start of next month as they head to a Birmingham side that are currently four places below them in the Championship table.

The sides meet at St James’ Park in the league this Saturday, and having guided his side to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, it will be interesting to see how many changes Benitez makes for his first FA Cup game in charge of Newcastle.

Last night’s draw threw up four all-Premier League ties, with the two most attractive matches pitting West Ham against Manchester City at the London Stadium and Everton against Leicester City at Goodison Park.

National League side Barrow host Rochdale, Sutton United host AFC Wimbledon, while the winners of the replay between Halifax and Eastleigh travel to Brentford.