Paul Gascoigne's knee injury will not force him out of Middlesbrough's north-east derby match against Newcastle, one of Gascoigne's former clubs, at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow.

"It will be a special day for Paul but we can't let any one player's situation be bigger than the game itself," said Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson. "This is an important game. We have gone unbeaten for two months in the league and you don't want to have that record taken away by your closest rivals.

"People will be watching Gazza, of course, but I hope they will be watching him for the brilliant game he is playing. He was a doubtful starter at the beginning of the week but he has proved his fitness every day in training since then.

"I know he's buzzing about this game. Mind you, Paul normally buzzes about every game. I fully expect him to be running about like a Tasmanian devil."

Newcastle completed a double of league wins the last time Middlesbrough were in the Premiership but now Robson's side are seventh, four places higher. Their continued presence in the upper reaches proves that their positive start after promotion was no fluke, and Ruud Gullit is aware of the dangers as he contemplates his first Tyne-Tees derby.

"Derbies are always special. I've played in a couple of them in Milan and it's always a special atmosphere," said Newcastle's manager. "For me I suppose it's just another game but for the local people it's something special. It's about winning and surviving and being king of the region."

Robson added: "I used to hate Sunderland and I wasn't that keen on Middlesbrough. But that was part of being a Newcastle fan. Twenty years away changes the way you think. Now I want all three big north-east clubs to do well - as long as we're on top."