HE may have spent his childhood in the Leazes End watching Newcastle United, Steve Bruce is looking to mastermind a Sunderland win in the Tyne and Wear derby this weekend.

Northumberland-born Bruce takes his side to St James’ Park on Sunday, in his first Tyne and Wear derby since he took over at the Stadium of Light 18 months ago.

While he openly admits to being a Geordie, Bruce is focused on his job as Sunderland manager and revealed his Newcastle-supporting family have always been behind him, despite leaving Tyneside very early.

“I am a Geordie, I’m not going to deny it,” Bruce said.

“I am a Geordie, it’s where I was born and I’m never going to try and hide that either but I think what a lot of people won’t understand is that I’ve been away since 1976. I left as a young boy and went on to have a career in football so you don’t really support a team if that’s the right word.

“Certainly in management now, you have one thing on your mind and that’s managing the club you’re at.

“My dad and me family are Newcastle fans, I think in a way are very proud that their son has done OK – make no mistake, well they had better!

“They’re always on my side and always have been no matter what I’ve done or where I’ve played and that goes for my wife too because she’s from up here.

“The whole family is born and bred up here but I think for the vast majority, when it’s family involved, they get behind you and I’d seriously hope they’d want me to succeed.

“Yeah I get a bit of stick but I can still go and have a beer with my dad, often there’s some stick but it’s light-hearted banter rather than vicious and I have to say in the 18 months since I’ve been here I’ve had no real viciousness, no matter where I’ve gone.’’ Since his departure from Tyneside, Bruce hasn’t had any problems beating Newcastle as a player, particularly during his trophy-laden Manchester United days and admits he is relishing the prospect of beating them as Sunderland manager.

“No, I didn’t have any problems,’’ he recalled.

“I remember the 1996 game as if it was yesterday, when Newcastle were well in front and we pegged them back and won 1-0, Cantona scored.

“I think the North-East region likes one of their own to do well, whether it’s Newcastle, Middlesbrough or Sunderland, I think you’re one of them from the North- East and that’s one thing I have learned since I’ve come back up here.

“I watched Newcastle as a boy in the Leazes End but I’ve never been to a Newcastle v Sunderland game so I look forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland’s record signing Asamoah Gyan has been shortlisted for world football’s most prestigious award – the Ballon d’Or.

Gyan arrived on Wearside from Rennes in the summer for a club record £13m and Bruce believes it is a fantastic achievement for the Ghana international.

“People forget he had a fantastic World Cup, he played very well in France last year and the good thing is I’ve just let him come in without any hype and I’ve kept away the pressure for when we eventually unleash him and he’ll be fantastic,’’ he said.

“Who knows it could be his day on Saturday.

“But for him to be one of the three Premier League players is a fantastic achievement for the kid to be involved in the last 22 in the world. There’s no Englishmen in it.”