REPUBLIC of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane fears that his "moment of madness" against Chelsea could cost him his Sunderland place.

The 23-year-old winger plays his last game at Aston Villa tomorrow before starting a three-match suspension after being sent off with England full back Graeme Le Saux for violent conduct.

He will miss the home game against Coventry plus matches at Bristol Rovers in the third round of the Worthington Cup, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Waiting in the wings to take over from Kilbane will be the out-of-favour Nicky Summerbee, yet to play this season, and £1m Welsh international John Oster.

Kilbane admitted: "It was a stupid, silly thing to do and I realise that now - I just lost it for a split second.

"I will be fined for being sent off, but as far as I am concerned that is irrelevant. It is missing three games which will hurt the most.

"When you are enjoying your football and playing well, which I think I am, you don't want it to end.

"There is the danger of losing my place in the team if they play well while I'm out.

"Players like John Oster and Nicky Summerbee will be trying to exploit my absence. This is a totally new experience for me - I have never been sent off before."

Kilbane is hoping to go out with a bang at Villa Park in from the of the Sky cameras, even though it could lead to a family feud!

His father-in-law, Steve Harrison, who coached him in his early days at Preston, is assistant manager at Aston Villa and Kilbane is wondering which team his wife Laura will be shouting for.

"When I'm playing against her dad's team I would like to think she will be supporting me, but she might have a sneaky hope that her dad's team wins as well!

"I haven't really spoken to her about it, but I am hoping she will be at the match supporting Sunderland."

Kilbane has the highest professional respect for Harrison, who taught him much at Deepdale.

He said: "He is a fantastic coach and has tremendous motivation skills. I've had a chat with him but he hasn't been dishing out any information about Villa!"

Kilbane is determined to sign off before his suspension on a high note.

He said: "It was totally out of character, but I can't dwell on what happened against Chelsea. I've just got to try to forget about it and look towards Sunday's match and try to do well.

"It would be nice to sign off before the three-match ban with a win and give Aston Villa a rough time."

Kilbane, who played in the Midlands for West Brom before his £2.5m move to Wearside last December, played in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park in April.

He said: "I am playing my best football since I came to Sunderland and I'll be going back to the Midlands feeling a lot stronger and a lot more confident."

l Former Sunderland coach and Hartlepool manager Viv Busby, 51, is in Rotherham General Hospital suffering from leukaemia.

He was coach at Roker Park and York under Denis Smith before managing Pool in 1993. He left his latest job as coach at Fulham in March