Sunderland manager Peter Reid has assured Irish midfielder that he still has a future at the Stadium of Light.
Kilbane has been frozen out at Sunderland, since the first game of the season after he made a two-fingered gesture to sections of Sunderland fans during a pre-season friendly. Despite making an unreserved apology, Kilbane has not even made the substitutes' bench for Sunderland since their opening day draw at Ewood Park.
However Reid insists that Kilbane is being dropped to protect him. "I need to protect him and I need to use him. He is such an honest player as well as an honest lad. Ask Mick McCarthy and he will tell you he is one of the first names on the Irish team sheet," Reid insisted.
"Kevin Kilbane will certainly be used by me. We have to utilise whatever ways we can for the benefit of the club," he added.
Filed by Rob Wright
