REPUBLIC of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane believes that Sunderland are good enough to put an FA Cup run together - and he is hoping to be part of it in today's home third round tie against his old club, West Brom.

Kilbane is in the unusual position of being a regular for his country but unable to command a place in the starting line-up for his club. But he is prepared to be patient and wait for his chance.

Kilbane, who left The Hawthorns in December 1999 for £2.5m, admitted: "The Championship is out of our reach but the FA Cup is a massive competition and we have to go into it with our heads held high and hopefully put a good run together.

"I think we are good enough to do that and a big trophy at the end of the season awaits. We have to go in full of confidence and I'm sure we will do that."

Kilbane is a little apprehensive about the return of Danny Dichio to his old stamping ground and he knows Sunderland will have to keep close tabs on the big striker.

"It always happens when you go back to an old club. It adds an extra bit of spice to the occasion and it always seems to backfire on the club who sold the player," he said.

"Hopefully it won't backfire on us and Deech doesn't score - or if he does we are already three goals up and winning the tie."

Kilbane addeed: "I certainly hope I'm playing against West Brom. It has been disappointing for me recently not to have been in the team.

"I hoped to play against Aston Villa on New Year's Day. I will just have to try to prove myself when the opportunity comes along."

Kilbane believes that signing Dichio will help West Brom's promotion campaign.

He said: "I think it is a great buy for West Brom. He could be the key to them getting promotion.

"He is a big player who will get goals. He will cause a lot of problems in the air and on the ground because he is a good player."

Dichio fanned the Cup flames by claiming that his new manager, Gary Megson, is even hungrier for success than Peter Reid.

He said: "Peter Reid had two cracks at promotion when I was at Sunderland. He missed out in the play-off final then led us to the title the following year.

"The gaffer down here just missed out in the play-offs last year but he has seen we are capable of finishing in that bracket again.

"He reckons we can start vying for one of the top two places if we start winning the games we are supposed to and I think he is even hungrier than Reidy was."

Dichio knows what to expect at the Stadium of Light. He said: "A few of the Albion boys have asked me what it's like to play up there and it can be very intimidating. I have seen a lot of teams a bit over-awed by it.

"But the gaffer has done the right thing by putting it to the back of everybody's minds. We could be on a hiding to nothing if we go up there feeling fearful."

Dichio doesn't know what kind of reception he will receive.

He said: "I never had a bad relationship with the Sunderland supporters but that might change if I pop up with the winner!"

* West Ham manager Glenn Roeder has insisted he will take nothing for granted against FA Cup minnows Macclesfield tomorrow and will field a full-strength line-up.

Roeder is likely to name an unchanged side from that which lost 3-0 against Leeds on New Year's Day to face the Third Division club.

''It would be disrespectful to our supporters and to Macclesfield,'' he said. ''We will put out our strongest team available on the day."

The Hammers boss also admitted he still cannot afford to allow certain players a rest after the busy Christmas period

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