CROWD favourite Nicky Summerbee has missed the opening four games of the season because he has told Sunderland manager Peter Reid that he is not match fit.

Supporters, baffled by the £1m winger's continued absence - he also misses today's game against Manchester United at Old Trafford - have been wondering if there has been any behind-the-scenes reason for his continued absence.

A section of the crowd chanted Summerbee's name during the 1-1 home draw against West Ham United and there has been speculation that he might have been frozen out after turning down a move to Bradford City during the close season.

Reid, however, said yesterday that the ball was in the player's court.

Asked about Summerbee's position, the manager replied: "He is not match fit at the moment - so he has told me.

"I asked him to play against the Arsenal in the opening game of the season and he told me he was not match fit.

"If he is not match fit he is not match fit. He had a groin injury in pre-season but not now."

"It is not a problem with me. Certain players have different levels of match fitness.

"Paul Thirlwell, Darren Holloway, Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips weren't fully match fit but they played and Nicky didn't.

"There are a lot of players on the Continent who have got to be 100 per cent match fit to play and you can't knock that.

"Certain players have got different levels they are prepared to go to.

"The other lads weren't match fit but they were prepared to have a go."

Reid added that when Summerbee does declare himself to be match fit he will be considered.

"He has another year on his contract to go."

Reid is likely to stick to the team which, against West Ham, he thought improved on the disappointing performances at Manchester City and Ipswich, with Argentinian recruit Julio Arca operating on the left flank and Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane continuing on the opposite flank.

Sunderland were on the receiving end of a 4-0 hiding at Old Trafford in April after gifting United an early goal.

Reid is confident his team will give a much better account of themselves - if they get the basics right.

He said: "I think we will do better than we did at Manchester City and Ipswich.

"I saw things on Tuesday night which I was pleased about and we have to take them into the game against Manchester United.

"We have a lot stronger squad than we had last season and there are five or six changes to the side which lost at Old Trafford. While that was a poor performance defensively we did pass the ball quite well.

"This time we've got to make sure we defend properly.

"I think we will create a few chances and if we can stick one or two away you never know, we could nick something.

"But you've got to give yourself a chance by defending properly."

Reid, however, knows the extent of the task his side faces against a team brimming with confidence.

He said: "It is always hard at Old Trafford.

"The best teams in Europe struggle there and it will not be easy.

"I think Manchester United will win the league - I think they are the best.

"But we have good players, international players, and we can go out and be positive. It is a game to look forward to."

l Sunderland's teenage striker Kevin Kyle, recently capped by Scotland Under-21s, has joined Huddersfield Town on a month's loan and midfielder Chris Lumsdon has also agreed to a month's temporary transfer at Crewe.

l Sunderland have decided to switch off television sets in the concourse of the Stadium of Light during the second half of matches after complaints by fans who are disturbed while watching the game live.

l Phil Neville has admitted that he cost England a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000.

The Manchester United full-back gave away a needless penalty in the dying minutes of England's final group match against Romania in Charleroi, which Ioan Ganea went on to convert and seal the 3-2 win to send Kevin Keegan's men crashing out of the tournament.

''You can blame me for England's flop,'' Neville admitted.

''I made a bad tackle, but if I was put in that situation again I might do the same because I am a defender who is paid to make tackles.

''The criticism that followed was right because that tackle put us out of the European Championships.

''I can't do anything about all the stuff that has been said and written, and if I played for another club it might not have been blown up quite as much.

''At the start of the season everyone was saying 'Phil Neville is going to get it.'

"But every United player gets booed - we are used to it.'