Central defender Danny Collins is looking to leave Portman Road on a winning note with his loan spell from Stoke coming to an end after today’s home game with Derby. Collins hasn’t ruled out a return to the Blues in January, although there is likely to be interest from Premier League and other Championship clubs when the transfer window opens.
Collins said: "I’d take a 1-0 win right here and now. We need to keep more clean sheets and I’ve been there trying to keep it tight at the back, hoping the boys at the other end can nick a goal and we can shut up shop.”
Asked how he would sum up his loan spell in Suffolk, during which time he became a first-time father, he smiled: "It’s been eventful. We were flying a few weeks back and people were talking about promotion. I really fancied us to kick on from there.
"But then we went on that bad run and the same people were saying we were going to get relegated. Seven defeats on the bounce isn’t great, no matter what standard you play at, and it isn’t easy playing good football when you are struggling.
"We went to Burnley recently and we didn’t put in a great shift at all so were thankful to come away with the points at Barnsley after it didn’t look great for us at half-time.
"That win wasn’t just for the manager. We owed everyone, especially the people who travel week in, week out, to see us play. We got back to playing the way we were playing a few weeks ago.
"I don’t know where it came from, although the quick goal just 25 seconds after half-time gave us all a lift. If we had gone, say, 10 minutes without scoring we would probably have gone a bit flat.
"Instead, it was Barnsley who had a bit of a wobble and couldn’t seem to hang on to the ball. We pressed them well and the other goals came along.”
Collins is not the only loanee to depart, David Stockdale having been recalled by Fulham on Thursday after it was revealed that their number one goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer, is likely to be sidelined for around six weeks because of a spinal injury.
Collins said: "David did well for us and I hope he gets his chance at Fulham. If he is only sitting on the bench it will be disappointing for him.”