New loan signing Danny Collins says his fitness levels aren’t too bad despite not playing during the first month of the season. The 31-year-old, who has joined Town until the Barnsley game in December, impressed during the Blues’ 2-0 defeat at Bloomfield Road.
Collins said: "My fitness is not bad actually, especially as it was my first 90 minutes for about four or five weeks, and I felt good throughout the game.
"Mind you my legs were a bit stiff on Sunday morning! But in all seriousness, I really enjoyed it and it was good to be back out there playing."
The Welsh international, who has been in the top flight with Stoke and Sunderland for the last four years, says the game’s not the same in the Championship: "It's very different to the Premier League and there are a lot more aerial battles to contest in this division.
"The game was played at a fast pace and I even said to one of their boys when we were coming off at half-time that this was more like a cup tie than a league game.”
Meanwhile, coach Chris Hutchings has revealed that veteran Icelander Ãvar Ingimarsson was left out of Saturday’s squad as it was felt he wasn’t quite ready to return after his thigh problem, with further training and a reserve match needed first: "We just felt that he needed a game under his belt.
"With Danny [Collins] coming in, that really made up our minds that it would be best if we gave him that extra bit of time in training.
"We've got four centre-backs in now which provides good competition for places and it means that those who have the shirt have to work hard to make sure they keep it."
The 34-year-old, who could be in contention for Monday's Sky game at home to Coventry, joined the Blues on a free transfer from Reading over the summer but has so far featured in only the 3-0 opening day win at Bristol City.
Photo: ITFC