REPUBLIC of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane is a man with a mission as Sunderland go into this afternoon's tough away fixture at Leicester without four regular first-choice players.

The Wearsiders have missing through suspension their 14-goal leading scorer Kevin Phillips, skipper Michael Gray and Scottish midfielders Don Hutchison and Alex Rae as they return to the Filbert Street scene of a 5-2 drubbing last season.

But Kilbane - left out of the ill-fated FA Cup Fifth Round home tie against West Ham to protect him from crowd abuse - is hoping that the list of absentees will re-open the first team door to him.

"I haven't started a first team game for seven weeks and that's the longest I have been out of a side since I turned professional at 18," said the 24-year-old winger.

"It just shows how things can change - one minute you are playing well and enjoying your football and all of a sudden it is taken away from you and you are not in the side.

"It is a long time to be out of the team but it hasn't just happened to me - it happens to every player. The important thing is to learn from it and when you do get back into the team appreciate it, relax a little bit more and savour the experience."

Kilbane stresses his disappointment about being left out of the squad last week, but he feels that while his confidence might have dipped, it is a long way from rock bottom and he vows that he will eventually win over the fans who have been recently giving him grief.

He said: "I would much rather have been involved but I accept it now, though I think it was a bit over the top about how much my confidence is lacking.

"I haven't been in the side for a few weeks and that's the only thing that's wrong with me.

"The longer it goes the less confident you become - you need to be playing games.

"I was aware of the crowd having a bit of a go when I came on for the last 15 minutes recently but I suppose it happens and you just have to get on with it.

"It has happened before in my career a little bit, but I have come through things a lot worse than that and it doesn't worry me at all - you just have to get on with it.

"The best way to win the fans over is to get a good run in the side and then start to show people what you can really do - that's what I'll be aiming to do over the coming weeks."

Kilbane finds himself in the unusual situation of probably being in the starting line up for his country, but not being able to hold down a regular place at his club.

But the £2.5m signing from West Bromwich Albion knows that, even with absentees it will be difficult to force his way into the side.

He said: "I think we have a good squad and it has been well documented that we are still on the look out for new players.

"It keeps everyone on their toes knowing that there will be players coming in and everyone has to expect it now. At this club there are two players if not three players for every position.

Kilbane, who received a phone call last week from Irish boss Mick McCarthy assuring him that he will still in his international thoughts, is prepared to switch positions to get back in the Sunderland side - and he would have no hesitation about playing up front in place of Phillips this afternoon.

He said: "I have played up front in the reserves the other week and I have played there in the past so it would be no big deal for me.

"If I was selected to play there at Leicester I would go out an play as well as I can play. "

Kilbane admits his best position is on the left wing, but he has no complaints about the way Argentinian teenager Julio Arca has come in and has established himself as a crowd favourite in that position.

He said: "It has always been my favourite position but I have no complaints - Julio has been playing fantastic football every week. I have been very impressed with him in training, watching his skills and watching his movements.

"He has come in and to do what he has done at 19 years old coming over to a foreign country is absolutely fantastic."