The Wales international has performed admirably in the last three matches at left-back, but knows he is under pressure to keep up that level of consistency now that Ian Harte – handed the No.3 shirt by boss Roy Keane – is competing for a place.

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Collins said: "Ian's come here and he's a quality player, so I can't afford to go to sleep or he'll come into the team.

"I've got to stay on the ball week in, week out. He was on to the bench on Saturday and he's a good pro and he does work hard.

"He's pushing me and it's the same in lots of positions."

Collins could also come under threat from Ross Wallace, who can also play at left-back, if £5.5million summer signing Kieran Richardson regains his left-wing spot after injury.

Collins is delighted to be playing Premier League football, having turned down the chance to join Stoke City in part-exchange for Danny Higginbotham last month.

"I was a bit disappointed with what went on, but if the gaffer wants to bring players in that's fair enough, I just had to get my head down in training," said Collins.

"I've never wanted to leave here. It's my fourth season now, I enjoy it up here and I'm settled. I want to be up here and part of the team.

"I played 40 games last season to get the chance to be part of the Premier League again. After the disappointment of two years ago, I want the chance to improve on that and prove to myself I can do it at this level. I've been given that chance."

Higginbotham signed for Sunderland in a £2.5million deal and now plays alongside Collins, who added: "I never actually spoke to Stoke. It got mentioned in the office once by the gaffer as part of a deal with Danny coming, but that was it really.

"He said the Stoke manager would get in touch but he never did to me, maybe my agent, but I never spoke to anyone from Stoke and I didn't feel that was the right move for me anyway.

"A few days went by, I was left out of the squad for the Liverpool game and you start to think about it. A few things went on here, a couple of injuries and whatever and I got back in the side.

"Things have gone pretty well for me since. I'm confident in my football again."

Collins will hope to retain his place for Saturday's visit of Blackburn, with Keane possibly facing a choice in defence if Nyron Nosworthy is fit. Nosworthy could return at the expense of Greg Halford, with Paul McShane reverting to right-back.