SUNDERLAND are ready to pull Kevin Phillips out of the opening game of their pre-season programme.

The Black Cats yesterday confirmed that Phillips, who underwent a groin operation this summer, is likely to miss the match against Amiens in France this Saturday.

Phillips is included Peter Reid's 20-man party, but the Sunderland manager is reluctant to risk his talismanic striker in the game in Le Touquet.

England international Phillips is equally wary of endangering his fitness with the start of the new Premiership season little more than four weeks away.

The 28-year-old frontman, who has pledged his future to the Wearsiders after attracting interest from Arsenal and Tottenham, said: "It feels good to be back in training and I feel fine.

"I surprised myself on the first day because I did some running and felt a lot better than I thought I would.

"I've had seven or eight weeks off and you're soon itching to get back into playing games.

"But it might take a little bit longer until I am ready to do that, because I haven't done any real twisting and turning yet.

"I have been OK doing straight-line running, but there is no point in pushing it too hard, too quickly.

"I should think that I will leave the ball work for a week and concentrate on getting my fitness up.

"There are still five weeks or so until the start of the season and as long as I am playing in games in the weeks before the season starts, there shouldn't be a problem."

Phillips played with the injury in the final three months of last season as Sunderland struggled to secure their Premiership status.

"It wasn't a major problem but it was a niggle and it was annoying me,'' he admitted.

"When I had the operation over the summer it turned out to be nothing more serious than we had expected.

"It's sorted now and it is good to be able to come back to training and not have to worry about that.

"I've had no problem with the groin since I've been back. About a week before we came back for pre-season I had a slight problem and I had to have a jab just to settle it down, but since then it has been fine.

"I'm pleased about that - it settles my mind and it means that I can concentrate on getting fit for the start of the season."

Sunderland new boys Phil Babb and Thomas Myhre have also travelled to northern France, along with out-of-contract duo Thomas Butler and Michael Proctor.

But Sean Thornton, signed from Tranmere last week, is on duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-19 squad in Norway.

Sunderland squad: Myhre, Macho, Williams, Haas, Craddock, McCartney, Babb, Thome, Gray, Bjorklund, McCann, Schwarz, Medina, Thirlwell, Arca, Bellion, Butler, Phillips, Kyle, Proctor.

* Sunderland's Grant Leadbitter played a key role as England won the Under-17 Nationwide Cup at Oxford at the weekend in a four-team tournament which also featured Brazil, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Midfielder Leadbitter, 16, from Chester-le-Street, starts a scholarship at the Stadium of Light this season.

* All Sunderland Reserves' home fixtures will be at New Ferens Park, Durham City, next season, except the games against Newcastle and Manchester United, which will be staged at the Stadium of Light.

Newcastle visit on Monday, September 16, and the Red Devils on Monday, March 24. The return with Newcastle will be at Gateshead Stadium on Monday, February 10.

Sunderland host Middlesbrough at Durham on Monday, October 21 and make the trip to Teesside on Tuesday, March 11.

Meanwhile, Birmingham are set to deal a blow to Reid's rebuilding plans by snapping up Wimbledon's Republic of Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham.

The newly-promoted Blues hope to confirm Cunningham's signing today.

And Raul Tamudo, whom Reid had added to his shortlist of striking targets, last night insisted he is staying with Espanyol.

The £9m-rated Spaniard said: "I will be with Espanyol next season. We have signed people with quality and experience who will be good for the team.''

* Season ticket holders have until Friday, August 2 to apply for tickets for Sunderland's trip to Blackburn on the opening day of the season. Tickets for the August 17 clash will go on general sale on Friday, August 9.

And tickets for the trip to Leeds on August 28 go on general sale on Friday, August 9, with season tickets holders having to apply by Friday, August 2.

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