England striker Kevin Phillips was at the centre of an injury scare before the second match of Sunderland's continental tour last night.

Phillips, expected to play after missing Sunday's match at Le Havre, was sent back to Sunderland for treatment on a knee injury, but manager Peter Reid insisted it was only a precautionary measure.

Reid said: "Kevin has a slight knee strain and I'm not going to chance him. There is no real problem, but there's no point in taking unnecessary risks."

Sunderland hope Phillips will respond to treatment and link up with the squad again in time to face Porto on Saturday.

It would see Phillips come face-to-face with the only striker to score more league goals than him last season - Brazilian Mario Jardel.

New signing Don Hutchison was handed Phillips' striking role alongside Niall Quinn last night and could have scored a hat-trick in the first 20 minutes.

The Scottish international's best chance came in the 20th minute when he latched on to a long ball from Jody Craddock and, with only the keeper to beat, blazed his shot wide.

It hardly seemed to matter because Sunderland were two goals ahead by the 21st minute thanks to Quinn, who was also rested at Le Havre.

He claimed a typical goal in the 15th minute when he found space at the back post to loop a header over the keeper.

Six minutes later, the Irishman produced a marvellous goal latching on to a clearance from the keeper and lobbing it back over him from nearly 50 yards.

Jose Del Solar hit back in the 27th minute with a shot which rebounded off the post and bar before beating new keeper Jurgen Macho, who made an impressive debut following his move from Vienna.

Mechelen levelled through Steven Ribus in the 37th minute but Craddock, Chris Lumsdon and Hutchison missed chances.

Quinn was replaced by Daniele Dichio in the 77th minute and the former QPR striker wasted two chances to clinch victory within the next four minutes.

Sunderland's team featured triallist from Strasbourg Pierre N'Janka, whose assured performance at the heart of the defence was only one of the plus points for Reid, who said: "We looked a lot sharper than we did in our last game.

"I gave a chance to the young lads and they passed it around well.

"The players are getting stronger all the time."

Sunderland (4-4-2): Macho; Maley, Craddock, N'Janka, McCartney; Wainwright, Peeters (Roy 46), Lumsdon, Fredgaard; Quinn (Dichio 77), Hutchison