SUNDERLAND boss Peter Reid has told Kevin Kilbane his future is on Wearside.

The Republic of Ireland World Cup winger has been taken out of the firing line by Reid since he gestured to fans who barracked him during the pre-season tour of Belgium. Kilbane, who hasn't figured in Reid's match-day squad since starting the opening game of the season at Blackburn, last week admitted his indiscretion had cost him his place and that he may be forced to leave the Stadium of Light.

Aston Villa and Middlesbrough have been linked with Kilbane, who said: "I'm not involved in games and the manager is not picking me for that pre-season incident.

"It does hurt and I want to be back in the side. When you are not even on the bench it makes it worse. I believe I'm good enough to be in the side - you can't be playing reserve-team football for the rest of your career.''

But Reid, who signed 25-year-old Kilbane from West Brom for £2.5m three seasons ago, is standing by his man.

"I just have to be careful, for obvious reasons,'' explained Reid. "It's a difficult situation because I need to protect him, but I need to use him.

"He's such a smashing player and an honest lad that he will be getting used by me, without a doubt. I'll use him when I think it's right.

"If you ask Mick McCarthy, Kevin is virtually the first name on the Irish teamsheet, so we have to utilise him in whatever way we can for the benefit of the club.

"I think the majority of supporters are with Kevin. I'm sure he'll bounce back. He's a strong character and a determined character.

"We've seen that when he's played for Ireland and hopefully we'll see it again in a red-and-white shirt.''

Kilbane could even come back into the reckoning for tomorrow's home game against Fulham, with £3.5m new boy Matt Piper undergoing treatment for a groin injury.

* Sunderland's Chris Brown has been named in the England Under-19 squad for the first time for the friendly with Hungary in Budapest next Wednesday.

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