SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid is backing top gun Kevin Phillips to blast a way out of his current goal drought.

The 27-year-old England international has not scored in open play since his goal at Anfield gave Sunderland a draw with Liverpool two months ago, and his penalty goal in the home win over Chelsea last month brought his tally for the season to a modest five.

Phillips, who won the European Golden Shoe award for his 30 Premiership strikes, goes into today's game at Charlton without a goal in five games - his worst run in his three seasons at the club.

But Reid insisted: "I know he will get a goal sooner or later.

"But his overall performances have been outstanding over the last few weeks.

"People know all about Kevin now and they are trying to stop him scoring. But I have no complaints - his general play has been excellent and he made another goal for us against Newcastle.

"I have no worries about Kevin Phillips getting among the goals again - there's not a striker around that doesn't have lean spells."

After his last two prolific seasons Phillips is obviously disappointed with his return of five goals in 15 matches but the run has not dented his confidence.

He said: "Ever since I arrived at Sunderland it's been goals all the way, but I've always known there would come a time when I would go a while without scoring.

"How you deal with a run without scoring says a lot about your character and hopefully dealing with a quiet spell will help make me a better player in the future."

Phillips scored against Charlton in the Wembley play-off final in May, 1988, and he travels to London hoping he can help beat Sunderland's jinx in the capital, where they haven't won in the top flight for 22 years.

The last time Phillips played at The Valley, in March 1998,he scored in a 1-1 draw.

He said: "Losing the play-off final was probably the biggest disappointment of my career but I don't feel we have a score to settle with Charlton because of it.

"For me it's just another game with three points at stake and another opportunity to try to get on the score sheet.

"I got a goal the last time we were at The Valley and I'd love to get one again."

Reid expects it to be tough against a side which bounced back after relegation and is managed by his former England Under-21 team-mate Alan Curbishley.

Reid sent his opposite number a bottle of champagne when Charlton clinched promotion last season, and he is pleased to see the Addicks back in the top flight.

He said: "You can't speak too highly of what Alan Curbishley has done down there.

"Beating Newcastle last week was a solid, professional performance and if we can get three points at Charlton it would put us in a great position.

"We needed the Newcastle result - it gave everyone a lift."

Reid travelled south with worries about two key players, full back Chris Makin, who has been troubled by a hamstring injury, and Scottish international Don Hutchison, who hurt his ribs in the draw at Liverpool at the end of September