PREMIERSHIP Manager of the Month Peter Reid last night promised Sven-Goran Eriksson "every co-operation" at today's key game at West Ham - but he will not allow the presence of the new England coach to distract his team from the main objective of winning three points.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson will get every co-operation he wants from this football club, from me and the players," said Reid.

"But the most important thing for Sunderland, its players and its supporters is trying to get a result at West Ham.

"It doesn't matter who is watching - the Queen of Sheba or whoever. All our efforts will be concentrated on getting the three points.

"We have had a chat about it and the players will be up for it."

Reid is expecting a top-class team performance from his players as they try to consolidate Sunderland's top-three Premiership placing.

But he knows the spotlight will be on his star striker, Kevin Phillips, as the 12-goal leading scorer tries to impress the man in charge of England.

Reid believes that Phillips should be given his England chance, but he feels that his case will be strengthened if he is a member of a successful Sunderland side.

Reid remembers winning his first England cap when he was 29 and believes that he got the international call because he was in an Everton team which was carrying everything before it.

"The only way players get picked for their country is to play well for their team, no matter who is watching," he said.

"If they do well they will get picked - it is as easy as that.

"It is down to the players themselves - I am a great believer in players picking teams and at international level if you are playing well for your club it is difficult for you to be left out."

Reid recalled: "I was 29 when I got my first cap and I was in an Everton team that was bombing.

"I had played for the Under-21s but it was my club form which got me my first full cap - I was playing for a team that was on fire.

"The best way Kevin Phillips can press his England claims is to do it on the football pitch - international coaches pick people on their club form and Sven, as a new coach, will have been well briefed on how well players have been doing."

While the focus will be on Phillips, who has scored five goals in his last three Premiership games, two other consistent Sunderland performers, skipper Michael Gray midfielder Gavin McCann, will also be trying to make an impression.

Reid is delighted with the form of both players and is particularly pleased to see McCann - 23 this week - slotting back so easily after recovering from a serious knee ligament injury which kept him out of action for ten months.

"When I bought him from Everton I thought he had all the attributes to become a top drawer player and he has done even better than I thought he would," said Reid.

"If you look at the games he has played and the results we have had I think he is a driving force in there and that is a compliment to the boy."

Reid added: "I think Michael Gray has been our most consistent player this season - he has matured and whether this has had something to do with him getting the captain's armband I don't know."

Gray, who missed the goalless FA Cup third round tie against Crystal Palace with a knee injury, is now fully fit and Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn has been given the all-clear on a recurring back problem to resume in place of Danny Dichio, who is suspended for one game.

Reid, named Manager of the Month after a fine December return of ten points from five Premiership games, is hoping that the award won't prove to be a jinx.

He said: "Winning the award tells you the players have done fantastically well - but I would swap it for three points at West Ham.

"Everyone knows there seems to be a kiss of death attached to the Manager of the Month award - I just hope we play well and lay any bogeys that there might be.