SUNDERLAND goal-ace Kevin Phillips warned his teammates before tonight's Tees-Wear derby at Middlesbrough: "Beware Alen Boksic."

Premiership Golden Boot winner Phillips rates the 12-goal Croatian as one of the best hit-men in the top division and he made no secret of his admiration for the £2.5m 31-year-old former Lazio, Juventus and Marseilles striker.

Phillips said: "When he is fit and raring to go I rate him as one of the top strikers in the Premiership.

"He is definitely a handful and one we've got to watch out for - if we can keep him quiet we will stand a good chance of winning the game."

Phillips, who carried everything before him last season when he hit the net 30 times, has found goals much harder to come by in the current campaign, but he has been impressed with the impact Boksic has made since switching from Italian football.

He said: "He has got everything. He is perhaps not a prolific goalscorer but his all round play, his hold-up play, and the skill he has got are incredible.

"One game he played in - Liverpool away - sticks in my mind because he was outstanding.

"He has got everything and while he is a different size to me I feel that I have added that element - holding the ball up more - to my game this season and he is a player you can definitely learn from."

Phillips feels that Middlesbrough have enough good players to turn their season around and fight their way clear of the relegation zone, especially if Boksic is involved regularly.

He said: "I am sure they will be well out of trouble before the last couple of games - and if Boksic can keep fit he is capable of getting a few goals to pull them out of it.

"If he had been playing for Manchester United, Liverpool or for us I'm sure he would have proved himself to have been an even better player.

"He is the focal point of the Middlesbrough side and when he is not there they miss him.

"Middlesbrough have got other players to worry about but to me he is the main threat and we've got to try to keep him quiet."

Phillips, who has served two suspensions this season for cautions, mainly for dissent, picked up his 11th in the 2-0 home defeat against Leeds, despite vowing to keep a tight rein on his verbal protests.

He admitted: "It is hard, especially when you get a bizarre incident going against you and you think it is a blatant foul. It is just frustration.

"I know I said I would try to keep my mouth shut and I kept it quiet for 89 minutes and it was that one minute that cost me. But I don't think I will be getting suspended again this season."

Phillips believes that he is getting more involved in matches and feels his all-round game has improved.

He said: "I know I am judged on scoring goals and because I haven't scored 25 or 30 already a lot of people are knocking me.

"But I more pleased now when I walk off the pitch now because I am more involved. It seems strange, last year when I walked off the pitch and was delighted to have scored I was a bit disappointed not to have been more involved.

"I've tried to do that this season and even though the goals haven't come so often my general all-round play is more season.

"If I can add a few goals in the remaining games I will feel I have had a really good season considering what I did last year."

Phillips again set himself a 20-goal target at the start of the season, despite his 30-goal tally which also won him the European Golden Slipper award.

He explained: "Every season I have set myself a 20 goal target and I have managed to get it.

"My first season at Sunderland was a one-off when I go 35 goals and I was fortunate the next season to get 25 with four months out.

"This season I just wanted to consolidate and have a reasonably good season.

"I think 15 goals in the Premiership is pretty good and if I can get another five and reach my target I will be delighted."

Phillips admitted: "Last season was a one-off but I feel it can be done again, perhaps not all League goals, but I do feel someone will score 30 goals in all competitions.

Unfortunately it hasn't come from me this season but I'm still happy!"

Phillips is aware that some of his critics have said he has had a poor season.

"Sometimes when I pick the papers up that's what makes me laugh, people saying I'm having a bad season when I am only five or six goals behind.

"This season my goals have come in spurts. Someone said to me it's like waiting for a bus - sometime you wait ages and three or four come along together.

"That's the way my season has gone and if I can get off the mark at Middlesbrough I might go into a little run and get the five goals I want for my 20."