Collins has been a regular at centre-back this season, which is Ferdinand's position, while he earned Player of the Season awards last term for his performances at left-back – McCartney's preferred slot.

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Ferdinand's arrival in particular, in a deal believed to be £8million, puts the heat on Collins and fellow centre-back Nyron Nosworthy.

But it's a challenge the Wales international will face head-on.

Collins said: "I relish the competition – it spurs me on.

"You have to fight for your place. If you just throw the towel in when new players arrive then there is no point in you being here.

"All I can do is do my best every day in training and out on the pitch and the rest is up to the manager.

"There are six defenders competing for four shirts, so there is a lot of competition and that's something you need in the squad if you are to do well in the Premier League."

Ferdinand (hamstring) missed out on a debut at home to Manchester City on Sunday but hopes to be fit for Sunderland's next game, at Wigan on Saturday week.

Collins has been pleased to win the chance to impress at centre-back, which is his preferred position, but his versatility and ability to play full-back has proved important to boss Roy Keane.

The Black Cats' manager has been tracking a new left-back all summer and finally made the breakthrough by brining McCartney back from West Ham just hours before the transfer window closed on Monday.

Collins – a team-mate of the Ulsterman during his first spell on Wearside – said: "It's good to have George back at the club.

"Phil Bardsley has done well at left-back this season, but I think George's left foot will give us some balance."

Sunderland are still stewing over their 3-0 home loss to City at the weekend in a game that tilted heavily in the visitors' favour after they opened the scoring just before half-time.

Collins added: "That first goal was a big blow and then to lose another five minutes into the second half killed us, really.

"You could see that one or two of the lads' heads went down and after that I couldn't see us getting back into the game.

"After the way we played in the first half, I couldn't really see that defeat coming because we played quite well for 45 minutes, even though we didn't create much in front of goal.

"Everyone hurts for a few days after a defeat like that so the break gives us a chance to try and get that game out of our system before we go to Wigan."