ENGLAND coach Sven Goran Eriksson could do well to check personally on the rejuvenated form of striker Kevin Phillips at Fulham on Wedensday night after a Man of the Match performance which got Sunderland off to a flying start at the Stadium of Light.

It wasn't a great match by any stretch of the imagination and neither side looked like top seven material - but the mercurial Phillips was a different class against a resolute and workmanlike Ipswich team which just could not to keep tabs on their tormentor-in-chief.

Phillips, who, by his own standards, had a disappointing return of 18 League and Cup goals last season after marking his debut season in the Premiership with a phenomenal 30 strikes, has taken the bull by the horns in his determination to regain his England place by shooting Sunderland into Europe.

Skipper Michael Gray was quick to pay tribute to Phillips and believes that "on fire" the 28-year-old is ready to resurrect his England career with a glut of goals.

"Kevin Phillips is an international player and once he gets his first goal for England I'm sure there will be a lot to follow - but he needs a run in the team," said Gray.

However Phillips' display did not surprise Gray, who has watched his team-mate sparkle in the pre-season build up.

Gray said: "Kevin came back two or three weeks early just to get a little bit sharpness and he has been outstanding in our pre-season games.

"He was absolutely fabulous against Ipswich and the whole team performance was magnificent."

The Ipswich defence will be pleased to have seen the back of Phillips for another four months while they try to build on last season's fifth place in the Premiership and make a name for themselves in Europe.

The ace striker covered acres of space as he roamed deep and then suddenly appeared menacingly within range of the Ipwich goal, displaying an unshackled inventiveness which helped new £3.6m striker Lilian Laslandes make a winning start to his new Premiership career.

Phillips' unselfishness cost him a goal in the 21st minute when he chose to head across the face of goal - just failing to find the incoming Laslandes - and after his penalty he went close to grabbing another with a left foot shot which travelled narrowly wide.

Laslandes thought he had marked his debut with a goal a minute before halftime when he netted with a sweetly-struck left foot shot, but the flag was raised for offside, and his new partnership almost produced a goal when he mis-hit a perfectly judged pass from Phillips after the break.

A second goal would have flattened Ipswich, but they kept up their quest for an equaliser and it took the non-stop efforts of outstanding defender Jody Craddock to keep them at bay, while new right back, Swiss international Bernt Haas also earned his stripes under fire.

Town, however, did not posses a player with the ability of Phillips to finish things off - their new £3m acquisition Finidi George missed a great chance in the 32nd minute when he headed straight at Thomas Sorensen from eight yards out.

Sorensen also had to make a great save to hold a header from Spanish substitute Pablo Counago in the 84th minute, but the Dane did not have the busiest of afternoons.

Crowd favourite Niall Quinn, who replaced Laslandes in the 72nd minute, was inches away from a spectacular headed goal two minutes from time, but Sunderland had done more than enough to clinch the points.

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