NEILL COLLINS boards the team bus for Watford this morning knowing it could be his last start for the foreseeable future.

Collins may have been Sunderland's star player in the competitive 1-0 victory over Millwall at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, but he can expect a return to the sidelines once Gary Breen returns from suspension.

The Black Cats' skipper serves out the last of his three match ban this evening for his sending off at Sheffield United last month and is expected to reclaim his place in the starting 11 when Sunderland head to Rotherham on Monday.

The biggest compliment you can pay Mick McCarthy's £25,000 signing from Scottish Second Division club Dumbarton is that the Sunderland captain has not been missed.

Collins has slipped into the Wearsiders' back line as if he has played there all his life and formed a formidable partnership with fellow Scot Steve Caldwell in the process.

Sunderland have kept a clean sheet on both occasions the 21-year-old defender has stepped in for Breen and the side has remained unbeaten.

He said: "I'm very pleased first and foremost that the results have been good. We have picked up four points in the two games I have played and we managed to keep two clean sheets which is a massive bonus for myself being a defender.

"The first thing on my mind is to play the game against Watford and then focus on Monday's game at Rotherham.

"It is up to the manager what he wants to do but I'll have no complaints, Gary Breen is a top international, who has played in a World Cup and is club captain. He is a massive player to get back so we'll just have to wait and see.

"The manager is the main person I have to impress, he is the man who picks the team.

"The media can write good things or bad things about you but that does not matter it is what the gaffer thinks."

McCarthy was keeping his cards close to his chest as to whether his skipper would go straight in to the side to face Rotherham on Monday once his suspension is served.

Instead, the former Republic of Ireland manager preferred to concentrate on his new centre half's qualities.

He said: "I recognised when he came to play with us that he was a good player. I put him straight in to the squad so I obviously have faith in him.

"Neil has a great attitude. Gary Breen is back for the game on Monday but we will have to wait and see what happens."

Watford currently lie ninth in the Championship table, and only four places and three points separate them and Sunderland.

The Hertfordshire club have not had the best of times recently and their 2-0 victory at Millwall four week's ago was the last time they recorded a league win; although they should have broken their duck on Saturday after surrendering a 2-0 lead at Derby County.

Collins will be looking to put in yet another solid performance at Vicarage Road and give his manager a nice selection problem.

And should the Black Cats' stopper manage to render the sting of Hornets' pair Danny Webber and Heidar Helguson, impotent, he will be half way there.

Webber, a former Manchester United trainee, has not scored in five games but has netted nine so far this season. His partner, Iceland striker Helguson scored both goals in his side's 2-2 draw at Derby.

"Danny Webber has had a great start to the season," said Collins, "and Helguson has obviously played in the Premiership for Watford.

"They are both on fire at the moment and we will have to keep them quiet. But I think they'll be looking at us knowing we have a good defensive record and they will have to break us down so it works both ways doesn't it?"

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