Collins is looking to keep his place

Sep 30 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DANNY Collins has voiced his disappointment at losing his Sunderland place on the back of one bad game but the Welshman realises it is a sign of things to come.

The 28-year-old was the Black Cats’ player of last season having featured mostly at left-back, and made an impressive start to the current campaign in his favoured position in the centre.

But a poor showing – one of many – in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City days after Anton Ferdinand’s signing cost him his place in the Premier League side until last week’s match at Aston Villa. Collins admitted having to watch from the bench was hard but accepts it as the price of such a competitive squad.

A torn hamstring for Nyron Nosworthy gave Collins his opportunity in the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park and the Welshman is determined to take it. “I was gutted to be left out,” he admitted. “I picked up man of the match (award) against Tottenham (in the previous league game) and then we lost the Man City game. I just got on with it, trained hard and took the chance that came my way when an injury came up.

“That’s what the gaffer will expect from all of us this season. I enjoyed playing alongside Anton – it was definitely good to be back. The squad is so big and good that no one can have a bad game really. Hopefully that will get us all moving up a level.”

The Wearsiders have made an inconsistent start to the season and while some have pointed to 10 summer signings as an excuse, it is not one Collins is prepared to use. “I’ve heard people talk about

us needing time to gel and the new players needing time to settle but it’s not really been like that,” he said.

“We train together during the week so we’ve already built a good understanding. The language barrier isn’t something that’s really caused us that much trouble either.

“I think there is more to come from the team. We’ve done well so far in terms of performances and the way all the new players have settled in but we want to build on it.”

Collins took solace from most aspects of Sunderland’s display against Villa. “I think it was a positive performance,” he said. “They’re a good side but they never really opened us up. After we took the early lead we looked pretty comfortable – it was disappointing to concede the two goals in the way we did. We can feel hard done by that we didn’t come away with a point.

“The manager just told us afterwards we’d have to stop giving away silly free-kicks. As a defensive unit that was disappointing, especially because they didn’t really cause us many problems apart from that.”

David Connolly is nearing full fitness after a hip operation but his return is likely to benefit a Championship side more than Sunderland. The striker is surplus to requirements and probably would have been sold in the summer had he not been injured throughout the transfer window.

“It’s a slow process, but he (Connolly) is recovering quite well and is back doing a bit of light jogging,” Keane told the club’s website. “I would hope Dave would be back on the training pitch in the next week or two. He is possibly one of the people I would look to send out on loan. He needs to play because he has missed an awful lot of games.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Stokes has been named in the Republic of Ireland’s squad for a “challenge match” against Nottingham Forest next month. Giovanni Trapattoni has picked a group of up-and-coming players and although Stokes was overlooked for the Under-21 squad recently, he has been included.

Ex-Sunderland players Liam Lawrence and Joe Murphy have also been selected for the October 7 game.

SUNDERLAND’S trip to Stoke City has been put back a day and will no longer be televised. Greater Manchester Police wanted the Potters’ previous game, at home to Manchester City, moved to Sunday and the Sunderland match will now take place on Wednesday, October 29 at 7.45pm.