ENGLAND international Kevin Phillips is to become a dad again - and he'd love to celebrate the joyous news by scoring the winning goal in today's 120th League derby against arch-rivals Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.

The 27-year-old striker was told yesterday by his wife, Julie-Ann, that she is six weeks pregnant and daughter Millie-Ann, aged three, will soon have a new playmate in the family.

"I've just heard that my wife and I are expecting a second child - it is great news because we have been trying for two-and-half to three years. The news has come at a great time and I couldn't be more delighted," said Phillips.

"To get the winning goal against Newcastle would end off a perfect week for me - it would be fantastic."

Phillips made it clear that rumours he is unsettled and wanted to leave Sunderland could not be further from the truth.

He might have been dropped from the England squad by new boss Sven-Goran Eriksson after going through a goal drought - he has scored only one goal in 11 games - but he is as buoyant as ever.

Phillips, winner of the European Golden Slipper award for scoring 30 Premiership goals last season, knows that the tongues have been wagging as he has struggled to find his old form, but he is confident that his touch will return.

He said: "Some people might think my head's gone down because I haven't been scoring goals but that's not the case.

"There is an awful lot of pressure on me because people expect me to score in every game.

"Because I'm not scoring at the moment people are going to put two and two together and think his head's down and he wants to leave. But that's nonsense.

"I've always said there would come a time when I would have a spell when I'm not going to score and things are not going to go right. Unfortunately it has come at this time and it is a question of how I deal with it.

"I feel I am doing okay and if I can score the winner against Newcastle I am sure the tide will turn."

He added: "It feels strange having a bad spell because I haven't had one in the three-and-a-bit years since I have been here.

"But the manager and the players have been fantastic and if I can get back on the score-sheet on Saturday it is not a problem.

"I enjoy the pressure - I thrive on it and hopefully I can break my duck against Newcastle."

Derby games against the Tynesiders hold fond memories for Phillips - and he knows just how important the matches are to Sunderland supporters.

He said: "I have spoken to a lot of supporters this week and strange as it seems they have said not to worry about Europe as long as we beat Newcastle on Saturday we're not bothered.

"That seems a bit strange but it just shows the passion of the supporters.

"I am sure it is the same for the Newcastle fans - their season has finished, they haven't got anything to play for and this is the game they want to win.

"There is a lot of hype about the game and I am really looking forward to it."

Phillips has become a derby hero since he pulled on a red and white shirt and he admits that the games have become something special for him.

He said: "I have some great memories of these fixtures. I'd heard a lot about the derby games against Newcastle and going into the first game was incredible.

"To get the winner at St James' Park last season put me on another level at Sunderland - someone said it gives you the keys to the city.

"To get the two equalising goals at the Stadium of Light was also incredible, so it is a good fixture, not just for myself but for the team and hopefully we can continue that."

Phillips knows that the dream of qualifying for Europe this season is fading after a poor run of one win in 11 Premiership games, but stresses that, with four matches remaining, the players have not given up hope.

He said: "We have perhaps been a bit below par but this is a perfect opportunity to bounce back with a good performance and a good win and get the season going again.

"It is certainly not doom and gloom - we have got four games left and if we can get maximum points then we will be right back in amongst it."

Phillips is a little concerned about the effect supporters might have on the players before the game if they have spent most of the day in local hostelries before the 5.15pm kick-off.

He said: "It's not an atmosphere I will have played in before with a 5.15 kick-off and everyone's going to be fuelled up.

"We'll all be merry running round in the warm up with the smell from the crowd.

"But the atmosphere will be magnificent and it is a game I just can't wait to play in."

Phillips regrets kicking the ball into the crowd near the end of last week's 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Spurs, when he was booed by the crowd.

He explained: "It was just frustration.

"People might say it was time wasting but you could sense the whole team was so disappointed to be losing."

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