Stan Collymore explains the apparent North East power shift between Newcastle and Sunderland

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Sunderland may have condemned their North East rivals to relegation last season, but Newcastle could soon have their revenge.

Stan Collymore has written in his column for The Mirror that there is a stark contrast in the managerial approaches of Rafael Benitez and David Moyes as Newcastle and Sunderland threaten to swap positions in the footballing pyramid.

Newcastle have almost offered a crash-course in how to bounce back from relegation, maintaining consistency by keeping hold of Benitez (below) while providing him with the autonomy to bring in proven, top-flight-quality players of his choosing.

In contrast, a three-goal defeat to Arsenal would mean Moyes’ Sunderland have made the worst start to a season since the Premier League began in 1992.

And Collymore says the difference between the Spaniard and the Scot could not be more pronounced, with the Magpies favourites to bounce back at the first time of asking while the Black Cats are looking increasingly low on lives after five successive near escapes from relegation.

“While Benitez has the vibe of a man who knows what he wants and is on track to accomplish his goals, Sunderland boss David Moyes looks shot to bits just three months into job,” Collymore wrote in The Mirror .

“Moyes looks a beaten man already and listening to him he sounds like he’s not had his finger on the pulse of today’s football for a while.

“During the summer Rafa went into Newcastle and swept away the stench of failure with a cleverly executed shake-down. But Moyes is still carrying deadwood, has-been players and right now you can’t see it turning around.

“While Newcastle finally look to have got it right, Sunderland are a million miles away.”

It’s difficult to disagree with the former Liverpool striker.

After all, while Newcastle dispensed with the ‘head coach’ role that led chief scout, Graham Carr, to bring in a number of overpriced flops, Benitez remained at St. James’ on the proviso that he would be given control over recruitment, as per The Telegraph.

Consequently, Newcastle have spent astutely on the likes of Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Ciaran Clark while their North East neighbours have splurged huge sums on unproven, underperforming players such as Papy Djilobodji (below) and Didier N’Dong.