THE North East’s top clubs are currently enjoying a two week international break but what five things await when they return to action. Sports writer Mark Ramsay considers what Alan Pardew, Gus Poyet and Aitor Karanka need to address to maintain improved form.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

The recall of Remie Streete from his loan at Port Vale suggests that Newcastle’s defensive problems are greater than first thought. Alan Pardew faces a headache at the heart of his defence ahead of his side’s next match at home to QPR because of injuries to Steven Taylor and captain Fabricio Coloccini.

The Magpies will also be hoping makeshift centre-half Paul Dummett remains injury free on international duty for Wales, otherwise a recent return to form could be severely affected by a crisis at the back.

SUNDERLAND

Sunderland have a selection dilemma ahead of their next fixture after Liam Bridcutt put in arguably his best display in a Sunderland shirt in Lee Cattermole’s absence.

Gus Poyet will find it hard to ignore Cattermole, who is returning from a one match ban, after he was voted the North-East Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year.

Sunderland must continue their recent revival by beating Leicester City next Saturday to propel them clear of the relegation zone before a tough run of fixtures.

The Black Cats’ Christmas schedule sees them host Chelsea and Manchester City before a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool; fixtures which could dump them back into real trouble.

Poyet will have to keep his players focused over this notoriously decisive period if he can achieve that then Sunderland might just hit the New Year in buoyant mood and optimistic for the future.

MIDDLESBROUGH 

Aitor Karanka, the Boro manager, will hope to avoid a similar fate to his predecessor as he begins his second year in charge at the Riverside. Like Tony Mowbray, Karanka ended his first season in charge with the Teessiders 12th in the Championship and has also started his second brightly.

But the Spaniard will have to maintain his focus to avoid a similar collapse that saw Mowbray’s men drop drastically down the Championship table after briefly occupying top spot in November 2012. At that stage Middlesbrough had 31 points after 17 games – like they do now – and eventually ended up seventh.

After recently agreeing new long term deals with wingers Albert Adomah and Adam Reach, Boro must look to secure Grant Leadbitter’s future. The 28-year-old, who has been a key figure for the Teessiders and notched eight times so far in the Championship this term, is out of contract next summer.

It should be high on Karanka’s agenda to get the Chester-le-Street-born midfielder's future secured.