Black Cats aiming to keep Blues quiet

The Pensioners fired in eight goals in the space of four days in FA Cup and Premiership games against Tottenham Hotspur, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink bringing his goal tally to 27 for the season with a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory in midweek - and the already little-fancied Wearsiders will have a mountain to climb without their 11-goal leading scorer.

England international Phillips picked up a knee injury in training earlier in the week and Reid was hopeful that his most dangerous player would recover in time to maintain his 100 percent attendance record this season.

But despite a promising overnight improvement Phillips aggravated the injury in a training session and it was clear he had no chance of playing. He was withdrawn from the squad which travelled south, ending an 11 month run of 33 consecutive Premiership appearances.

Reid said: "The lad is not right and it is a blow, but I have options up front."

The manager looks set to put together a completely new pairing of his latest acquisition, the on-loan Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma and Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn as he looks for a new source of goals in the absence of Phillips, while Scottish Under-21 international Kevin Kyle, who has scored six goals in his last two reserve games is likely to be put on emergency standby.

Reid must also decide whether to go for experience and switch England international Michael Gray from midfield to his normal position at left back, or stick by young Northern Ireland international George McCartney as he tries to upset the odds at The Bridge.

The Wearside boss said: "Chelsea have been on fire recently and their two front men, Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen have been really dangerous - their goal record together is the best partnership in the Premiership.

"If one of them doesn't produce the goods they've got Zola and Forssell to bring on so it's a big test. We take a lot of heart from our performance and winning 4-2 there last season and we've played well against them at the Stadium of Light.

"But at this level you come across quality strikers in a lot of sides and it's a matter of defending really well."

Reid revealed that he made an unsuccessful bid to get Gudjohnsen when Bolton Wanderers decided to part with the Icelander two years ago.

He said: "I really like Gudjohnsen but unfortunately we couldn't get him when he left Bolton.

"He's a very intelligent player - his movement is excellent and he has fantastic ability.

"His understanding with Jimmy Hasselbaink is telepathic and they really hit it off well - Gudjohnsen's goalscoring record has never been all that bad but he's certainly improved."

Reid thinks it will be hard for Chelsea to climb into the top four to win a European Champions League place.

He said: "It's going to be difficult for them and is we get a result at Stamford Bridge it's going to be even more difficult for them.

"But when you look at their squad they have some fantastic players - some who can't even get into the side - and they have quality all the way through. They're one of the top clubs in the country at the moment."

But Sunderland will travel south with confidence, despite losing 2-1 at White Hart Lane on their last visit to the capital.

Reid said: "The lads have been bubbly in training and I think this is a game they're really up for."

Reid has been impressed with the way McCartney has performed against Spurs and Bolton.

He said: "He's a good player, an international and I think Sammy McIroy said after he'd played his first game for Northern Ireland last year it was one of the best debuts he'd ever seen.

"He's got quality and he's one of those players pushing for a first team place who have done well over the last couple of years, and in the next couple of years I'm expecting good things from him."

Republic of Ireland's Jason McAteer is suspended for one game, but United States skipper Claudio Reyna and Gavin McCann are ready to return to the Sunderland midfield after injury

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