Coach must be English, but not me, insists Reid

In a hard-hitting assessment of the situation Reid, who feels that Terry Venables is the best man for the job, said: "I am sick to death of these foreigners being bulled up to high heaven.

"You get the impression that any foreigner who comes in knows the game more than we do.

"I think the England manager should be English. I believe there are enough quality coaches in this country to do the job."

Reid, who was appointed coach of the England Under-21 team last year after the controversial sacking of the highly successful Peter Taylor, who has gone on to steer Leicester to the top of the Premiership, has been touted as a possible candidate for the England post.

But he made it clear that he does not feel he is ready to move up to the international stage.

He said: "I did enjoy working with the Under-21s but being a club manager it was difficult to fulfil both roles.

"I think the England job and the baggage that goes with it is a lot of pressure for one person and it is not just down to pure football.

"The England coach now gets stick before the game starts. He picks the team and he gets stick - they don't even wait until the team go out and play.

"It needs a strong personality but I think experience is vital. I don't think I have got enough of that at the moment."

Reid points out that in the 1980s English club football was the best in Europe and clubs still give good accounts of themselves.

He said: "Perhaps we have lost a few years and it does take time to come back, but I am sure there are England coaches who can do it."

Reid rates Venables as favourite for the England job.

"I worked with him at Under-21 level and on purely football I think he is excellent.

"He went to Barcelona and won the title there for the first time in ages.

"Terry Venables would be my choice - he has a terrific knowledge of the game."

Reid comes face to face with a foreign manager when new Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri brings his team to the Stadium of Light. And Reid stressed he would be welcome to an after-match drink, whatever the outcome.

Reid, of course, would be delighted for a repeat of the performance against Chelsea last season, when the Londoners' never recovered from Sunderland's whirlwind start and trailed 4-0 at half-time, thanks to a brace apiece from Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn.

Reid said: "The first 45 minutes against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light was the best I've experienced as a Sunderland manager.

"But I don't think we will catch them cold again this time.

"Chelsea have had a change of coach and seem to be firing on all cylinders after their terrific result against Liverpool. It will be a difficult match."

Reid has seen an improvement in his side's performances in the drawn games against Liverpool and Leicester City, but he wants better delivery of the ball into the penalty area to Quinn and Phillips.

He appreciates that Chelsea have attacking flair in their side and anticipates plenty of action.

He said: "They have good attacking players who will try to get at you. I expect them to come at us as much as we will go forward at them."

Sunderland go into the game without Scottish international midfielder Don Hutchison, who is serving a mandatory one-match ban after picking up five bookings.

The vacancy will be filled by Alex Rae, who has recovered from injury, Paul Thirlwell, or Eric Roy.

l Mario Melchiot has revealed how international colleague Edgar Davids helped him overcome a nightmare start to his Chelsea career and break into the Holland team.

Chelsea's versatile Dutchman made his international debut in midweek after missing most of last season with a series of foot injuries.

Melchiot, 23, said: ''During my injury I remember wondering if it would ever work out for me and Edgar Davids called to tell me not to worry. He reminded me how he had recovered from a broken leg.''

Gianluca Vialli lured Melchiot to London on a free transfer in the summer of 1999