Phillips stays with Sunderland, says Wilkinson

SUNDERLAND boss Howard Wilkinson yesterday moved to dispel fears that Kevin Phillips is ready to throw in the towel on Wearside.

The 29-year-old England international made a gesture as he left the pitch after being substituted during Monday night's abject 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City which had been interpreted by some as his parting shot. However, Wilkinson yesterday revealed that Phillips sought him out immediately after the game and again yesterday to explain his actions and insist he remains firmly on board.

"Kevin came to see me and said it was just a shrug of disappointment and said he wished he had not done it," Wilkinson said.

"He said it was directed at his wife in the stand and that he was just showing his disappointment at the way the game had gone."

Phillips' disappointment was clear as Sunderland's season lurched deeper into the mire with the former Watford hitman, their most potent weapon, having found the net just once in 12 appearances to date.

However, Wilkinson is convinced that a man who plundered 30 goals in his first Premiership season, in combination with the likes of record signing Tore Andre Flo, can find his range once again.

"People like Kevin and Tore can be invaluable to us," he told the club's official website, www.safc.com. "Kevin is a proven finisher, Tore has great feet and a good eye for goal. They are players who should be vital to us this season, but we have much to work on if we are to reverse the decline of the last 21 months."

That work must start to pay dividends soon if the Black Cats are to drag themselves out of the danger zone before the vultures start to circle overhead.

They have won just one of their last eight Premiership games the 2-0 victory over Tottenham in which Phillips last scored and are without a single goal in eight hours of football.

With Liverpool heading for Wearside on Sunday determined to halt their own indifferent run, they know that things must change and change fast if they are to repair the damage of a depressing few weeks.

"We have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start winning," said skipper Michael Gray.