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The kick-off to this season’s Tyne-Wear derby is expected to change.

Premier League bosses will next week announce fixture changes for the rest of the 2014-2015 season for live TV matches. And the Chronicle understands that the timings to this year’s derby at St James’ Park will be one of the games to be changed.

The game is currently scheduled for a 3pm kick-off but traditionally games have been changed to earlier starts.

Police and partners have already started planning for the derby clash on December 20, which will take place at the same time tens of thousands of shoppers will flood Tyneside’s stores for the busiest shopping day of the year.

The match will also come just hours after “Black Eye Friday” drinkers celebrate the start of the Christmas fortnight.

Safety concerns have previously been raised about the timing of the game.

At the time of the announcement MP for Newcastle Central Chi Onwurah said: “I am concerned not only about the impact on the business economy - as it’s a very important trading day for out businesses - but about the Premiership getting the timing right in terms of safety considerations, especially given past experiences.

“I would hope given what the supporters did after the tragic deaths on the Malaysia Airlines flight, that this could be played in a much more friendly atmosphere, but unfortunately given the timing of the fixture just after Black Eye Friday and just before Christmas, I have concerns that the timings might make violence or disruptive behaviour more likely.”

Men and boys were handed jail sentences for their roles in the 2013 Tyne-Wear derby that topped the 50-year milestone.

It followed some of the worst football related disorder seen in years.

Gangs tore through the city after watching Newcastle beaten 3-0 at St James’ Park.