ENGLAND international Kevin Phillips has vowed to prove his critics wrong after astonishing calls from disgruntled fans for him to be dropped by Sunderland manager Peter Reid.

The striker, who won Europe's Golden Slipper and the Premiership Golden Boot awards last season for scoring 30 League goals is in the middle of a drought which has brought only one goal in 12 games - a run which has coincided with the Wearsider's rapidly diminishing hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Since the end of January Sunderland have slipped from second place in the Premiership to eighth after only one win in 11 games, gleaning just seven points.

Sections of supporters have been growing increasingly impatient with the team's lack of form - and for the first time in his career on Wearside Phillips has been the target for criticism on the field and in the local press.

The 15-goal striker was booed at the end of the 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month when he angrily kicked the ball into the crowd and critical letters have questioned Phillips' recent commitment, complaining about Reid continually picking him.

Phillips, who has the full backing of his manager, is well aware of the increasing hostility among supporters who were just a short time ago adoring admirers of a player who set a new post-war goalscoring record when he hit a hat-trick at Bradford City on Boxing Day.

Phillips said: "This is definitely the biggest challenge of my career, what with the lack of goals and people having a go at me.

"It has been a little surprising to be honest because I've never known criticism during my time at Sunderland. I knew when I got here that the club had a reputation for being a difficult place for strikers, but nothing could have gone better for me than it has done over the last few seasons.

"It has been a dream come true, but I was always aware that the time would come where I would have a disappointing spell and the goals wouldn't flow."

Phillips added: "To be honest I was a bit taken aback at some of the stick I've got in the local paper because I don't think I've done too badly for the club.

"And anybody who knows me knows how desperate I am to score goals - I don't go out there not wanting to score."

Phillips has dismissed as "ridiculous" rumours that he wants to leave the club and could be moving on to Arsenal this summer.

He said: "As soon as I start getting goals again I know all this nonsense about me wanting to leave will be quickly forgotten about.

"It's a challenge that every player has to cope with at some stage of their career, but I'm determined to come through it."

Phillips is appreciative of the whole-hearted support he has had from Reid during a difficult period.

He said: "The manager has always been 110 percent behind me and he knows the goals will come."

Reid, who has stressed that he would not swap his star striker for anyone in the Premiership, said: "Kevin Phillips has been magnificent for this club and he is happy here. He is a fantastic striker and he just needs a goal - sooner or later it will come and I have every confidence in the lad."

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