SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid faces a showdown meeting this week with unhappy £1.5m striker Milton Nunez.

The little Honduran has found himself out in the cold on Wearside, having made only one appearance as substitute since his beat-the-deadline transfer last season and is desperate to move.

Reid, who bought Nunez on the strength of video evidence and recommendations, has admitted he made a mistake - but he wants to recoup as much as possible of the transfer fee spent on a player who cannot even make the reserve team.

Sunderland's valuation, however, has proved a stumbling block for clubs interested in signing the 28-year-old Central American, who is still a regular member of his country's World Cup qualifying squad, despite his continuing lack of Premiership opportunity.

An Argentinian club is reported to be the latest outfit to be showing interest in Nunez, whose agent, Pablo Betancur, has had recent talks with Reid.

Now Betancur is to seek a further face-to-face meeting with the Sunderland boss this week in a bid to resolve the deadlock and secure the release of the unhappy front man.

Reid will also be seeking immediate expert advice on the extent of the knee injury which forced his star midfielder, Gavin McCann, to drop out of preparations for England's World Cup qualifying game against Finland.

New England boss Sven Goran Eriksson was so concerned about McCann's injury he insisted he returned to his club to seek urgent treatment.

McCann's injury affects the knee which required surgery to repair cruciate ligament damage last year, keeping him out of action for nine months.

But he seemed to make a complete recovery following his return to first team action in December and his excellent performances this season won him England recognition, coming on as a second half substitute in the friendly against Spain last month.

Now he looks certain to miss Sunderland's big game against European qualification rivals Leeds United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.