SUNDERLAND new-boy Neill Collins has delivered a damning verdict on the state of Scottish football which he believes is stifling the development of the country's young talent.

The 20-year-old centre-back signed a two-year deal at the Stadium Of Light last week after impressing on trial, and claimed the game north of the border can be 'depressing'.

The former Dumbarton skipper left the Scottish Second Division side in the summer after growing increasingly frustrated at playing in front of crowds of just a few hundred.

He said: "I wasn't sad to leave Scottish football at all. I was very frustrated playing up there.

"If I'd had to stay I would have got my head down and got on with it, but you cannot develop as a player up there unless you're playing for Rangers or Celtic.

"You're playing in front of tiny crowds the whole time and it can become depressing.

"It's certainly going to be better to play in England. You just have to look at the crowds they get in the Championship, let alone the Premiership."

The national side have struggled to make an impact on the international scene despite turning to former German coach Berti Vogts, and Collins felt he was standing still in Scotland.

He said: "At the end of last season I decided it was time to make a step up from Dumbarton. I'd been playing there for two years and felt as though I'd learnt as much as I could there.

"I've only been here a couple of weeks and I already feel as though I've improved as a player. Coming to Sunderland will definitely help me develop.

"I was standing still at Dumbarton, but with players like Gary Breen and Steve Caldwell here, you learn everyday in training, let alone playing alongside them in matches.

"Sunderland are one of the biggest clubs with superb facilities, I've had to leave Scottish football to improve myself as a player and I'm confident I will do just that at Sunderland."

l Midfielder Jeff Whitley is the latest Sunderland player to withdraw from international duty after picking up a calf injury in Saturday's 2-2 draw with QPR.

He joins fellow Northern Ireland international George McCartney (calf), Scottish duo Kevin Kyle (hip) and Steve Caldwell (groin), Estonian Mart Poom (back), and Wales John Oster (shin).

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