Former Newcastle defender Stuart Pearce says manager Eddie Howe cannot take their FA Cup tie with Sunderland lightly.

It will be the first time the Northeast rivals have met in eight years.

Pearce told talkSPORT: "I don't think he can afford to. Plus on the back of that they have a week off.

"Then you can rest players and let them put their feet up. Or give them a week off.

"He can't afford to do something like that on the back of a Sunderland defeat."