SUNDERLAND goal-ace Kevin Phillips will be on a double mission against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light tonight.

He is determined to earn himself the distinction of having scored against every Premiership club as England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson checks his form.

The former European Golden Shoe winner needs this one last scalp to complete his collection, and the Teessiders will be on red-alert as the 28-year-old striker tries to boost his World Cup hopes.

Phillips, who brought his goal-scoring tally to ten for the season in the 1-1 home draw against Fulham, is now hoping to blast his way into Eriksson's plans for Japan and South Korea this summer.

He said: "I'm playing some of the best football of my career at the moment and I'm keen to go on a goal-scoring run.

"I know that Middlesbrough are the only Premiership side I've yet to score against and I'd love to make it a full set.

"I'll be going for goal against them because I'm feeling in good nick."

Phillips, determined to avenge a 2-0 defeat at the Riverside in October, added: "There's no particular reason why I haven't scored against Middlesbrough.

"But I'll be looking to get a goal against them because it's a game which will make a big difference if we can get the three points.

"It's a derby and a night match and there should be a cracking atmosphere. The noise in the second half against Fulham was fantastic and lifted us all.

"We intend to be at our very best and with the supporters behind us we have every chance of getting the three points - and I'm determined to get that goal."

Teessider Darren Williams, hoping to play against his home-town club, believes Middlesbrough's superb FA Cup success over Manchester United will make Sunderland's task even more difficult tonight.

He said: "What happened on Saturday was a massive result for Middlesbrough and now they will be coming here full of confidence and expecting to win.

"It will make things doubly difficult for us. But this is a big North-East derby match when passions will be running high and we will have home advantage.

"We played really well in the second half against Fulham and with the crowd behind us there's no reason why we shouldn't begin where we left off."

Sunderland manager Peter Reid is also hoping that his players can again respond to the backing of the home supporters and get back to winning ways.

He said: "It is a derby between two sides struggling to score, but who have been pretty solid at the back.

"It is a vitally important game for both clubs. I thought we played well against Fulham. It was a difficult game and certainly the crowd was a massive influence. They really got behind us in the second half and the players responded.

"Kevin Phillips got us another goal but there is an onus on players in other areas getting their share of goals. We did create chances from the middle of the park and hopefully we can do the same against Middlesbrough.

"But they are coming here on the back on a terrific FA Cup result and they will be buoyed by that.

"We know it will be hard but we will go out with a positive attitude and try to get the ball down and play with a bit of confidence.

"We have been a bit edgy recently and hopefully we can go out in a derby game - they are always passionate affairs in the North-East - and I hope we can show some of that passion in our play."

Reid said he was left "speechless" by the tragic death of Colin Cooper's baby son.

He said: "It is something that puts football right into perspective. I haven't got words to describe my feelings. I don't think you can ever get over something like that - it is an absolute tragedy."

Sunderland will be without the injured Brazilian central defender Emerson Thome and midfielder Paul Thirlwell, and there is a doubt about Gavin McCann, who has got over a broken nose but has a slight knee ligament strain.

United States skipper Claudio Reyna has recovered from the ankle injury which has kept him out of the last three games and could return at the expense of Swedish international Stefan Schwarz.

l Jamie Carragher faces a nervy wait of ''several days'' before he learns his fate following police and Football Association investigations after his FA Cup coin-throwing shame.

But it now seems certain he will be interviewed by police following Sunday's incidents at Highbury, when he threw a coin back into the crowd after being hit by several objects.

Carragher now awaits his fate with Liverpool caretaker-boss Phil Thompson, who appealed for his player not to be made a 'scapegoat'.

Thompson said: ''More and more we are seeing missiles thrown at the players and it's a shame that a Liverpool player has taken the brunt of this.

''It is sad it may have taken a player to snap and show his frustration before something is done about it.

''What Jamie did wasn't right, but it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt, it's frightening.''

The Liverpool star, having made what the FA yesterday described as a ''welcomed, fulsome apology'' for his shock behaviour at Highbury, could still find himself facing police prosecution.

The FA would prefer to handle the situation themselves without police action, and have decided to wait until police investigations are completed before announcing whether they will charge the England full-back with misconduct.

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