STEVEN Reid is not afraid to admit he nearly choked on his cornflakes when he picked up a copy of a Sunday tabloid recently and read a story linking him with a summer move to Manchester United.

As the unsung hero of this Blackburn side, Reid is used to seeing more high profile team-mates like Craig Bellamy and Robbie Savage hogging the headlines, while he quietly goes about the job of stoking the fire in Rovers' engine room.

But if Mark Hughes' midfield dynamo produces many more performances like the one he served up here then, surely, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the Premiership starts to sit up and take notice.

Reid's emergence under Hughes over the last 18 months mirrors that of this Blackburn team.

Under Graeme Souness, the Republic of Ireland international was seen as something of a misfit - no-one was sure of his best position, and he rarely got the chance to put together a consistent run of games.

But under Hughes, Reid is fast developing into a top-class central midfield player, and the very heartbeat of this Blackburn side.

Brimming with energy, drive and a steely determination to impose himself on his opponents, the 25-year-old possesses many of the qualities that make up the modern day Premiership midfielder in an age when athleticism often outweighs aestheticism.

It's not surprising, therefore, to see Reid being touted as a possible target for Manchester United, where Sir Alex Ferguson is still looking for someone to fill the void created by Roy Keane's departure.

Hughes certainly believes he has the 'potential' to become a midfield enforcer in the 'Keano' mould one day, but the Rovers boss is determined to see him fulfil that potential in the colours of Blackburn rather than with a Premiership rival.

"When you're talking about the Roy Keanes, the Steven Gerrards and the Patrick Vieiras of this world, those guys have been doing it for season upon season and Steve certainly hasn't had that same impact over a period of time as yet," said Hughes.

"But he definitely has that potential and he feels he's now one of the most senior players in the side and he's certainly taken that responsibility on, and he's grown as a player because of that."

It wasn't just the manner of Reid's winning goal that was so impressive; his overall performance also had his manager drooling.

Two years ago, Reid wouldn't have had the confidence to take responsibility and grab this game by the scruff of the neck but, as one of Hughes' more trusted lieutenants, he is now one of the main driving forces in a Blackburn team that is marching relentlessly towards a top-six finish.

"It was a great goal," said Hughes approvingly.

"He got a little bit of space because of a run that Craig made and he saw the opportunity, drove forward into it with the ball, and finished it with great style."

In truth, this was hardly a vintage Blackburn performance but, spurred on by Reid's never-say-die attitude, Rovers still had too much clout for a Sunderland side that is danger of being crowned the worst in Premiership history.

The Black Cats, who still need eight more points to avoid posting the lowest ever total by a top-flight club since three points for a win was introduced, looked every inch a side that has lost 19 of its last 22 league games, but they might still have snatched an unlikely point had they possessed a little more cutting edge during a frantic finale.

Missing the energy of the suspended Robbie Savage, there were times when Rovers looked lethargic and distinctly unconvincing, although, in fairness, a stodgy playing surface was hardly conducive for their usual fast-flowing football.

Tugay, in particular, struggled to get his normal passing game going and the longer the afternoon wore on, the more Rovers got sucked into playing the kind of match Sunderland wanted.

However, Hughes won't have lost too much sleep over the manner of his side's disjointed display because, at this stage in the season, it's points rather than performances that count in the scramble for European places, and this was another potential banana skin successfully avoided.

Rovers started sloppily and they might have been punished after just 26 seconds when a gap opened up on the edge of the area but, thankfully, the ball fell to Jon Stead and the confidence-stricken striker made a complete hash of his shot, which trickled straight to a grateful Brad Friedel.

Three minutes later, Stead then made a yard of space for himself in the area before picking out Rory Delap with a fine cross, but the former Southampton man headed tamely wide.

Rovers finally woke from their slumber and fashioned what turned out to be the winning goal in the 15th minute.

Ryan Nelsen - who was impeccable at the back - picked out Reid in the centre circle with a clever pass, which he delivered with the outside of his boot.

The Rovers midfielder then embarked on a typically driving run that carried him deep into enemy territory.

As Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov peeled off to either side, taking their markers with them, the Red Sea in front of Reid parted and he advanced unchecked to the edge of the area, from where he thumped a ferocious right-footed shot past a cruelly exposed Kelvin Davis.

After that, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Bellamy and Brett Emerton all spurned further chances to extend Rovers' lead, before Friedel made his first meaningful save of the afternoon to deny Delap.

The second half became increasingly scrappy. Bellamy should have eased Rovers' nerves when put through by Pedersen but scuffed his shot wide.

That miss could have proved costly as sixty seconds later, a stray header from Tugay then sent Chris Brown clear, but Friedel came to Rovers' rescue by winning his duel with the Black Cats striker.

Sunderland kept fighting to the end, though, and they might have nicked a point at the death had the referee, Peter Walton, spotted Lucas Neill's handball in the area in the final minute.

A relieved Hughes said: "We're delighted with the three points.

"It was really important that we continued to pick up points and we needed to get our away form back on track, which we've done, so, all in all, it's been a good day."