FRENCH international Lilian Laslandes is heading for a show-down meeting with Sunderland manager Peter Reid after being left out in the cold for the last Premiership game against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

The 30-year-old, a £3.6m summer signing from Bordeaux, was not even on the bench and watched the 1-1 draw from the stand. Two days later a fully fit Laslandes found his name absent from the team sheet for the reserve derby against Middlesbrough.

Now Laslandes, capped five times by France, is expected to make his discontent known to Reid after not starting a Premiership game for a month.

Instead the big striker's last two outings have been at reserve team level, and he is perplexed that a match-winning goal against Manchester City reserves was not enough to win him a place in the squad against Arsenal.

Laslandes said: "I came to England to play and hopefully I'll be doing more of that soon in the Premiership."

It was expected that the French star would share a striking role alongside England international Kevin Phillips with Niall Quinn.

But after starting the first two League games of the season and scoring his only senior goal for the club in the 4-2 Worthington Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Laslandes has only been used four times as substitute and is still looking for his first Premiership strike.

Laslandes admits that playing for the reserves has not the same thrill as pulling on a first-team jersey. He said: "I need the reserve games for my legs. You work in training but a match is the only way to keep your heart working properly.

"The reserves has not got the passion and quality of the Premiership, but I must be fit and ready to play in the league, so I must play for the B team."

Laslandes found his reserve team place against Boro taken by Danny Dichio - recovered from a broken foot received playing on loan for West Brom.

l Scottish giants Celtic have been linked with a move for Sunderland skipper Michael Gray.

Gray, the only player still at the club from when Peter Reid took over as manager six years ago, has selected Celtic as the top-notch opposition for his testimonial to reward his ten years' service later this year