AFTER again establishing himself in Roy Keane's first team following uncertainty over his future, defender Danny Collins has explained why he never wanted to leave Sunderland.

Towards the end of August the versatile defender was informed by Keane he was being used as a makeweight in a deal to bring Danny Higginbotham to Wearside.

However, Collins was reluctant to drop back down to the Championship after being given an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League a second time.

After being omitted for the games with Liverpool and Luton Town, he has performed well against Manchester United, Reading and Middlesbrough.

Collins, despite the arrival of experienced Irishman Ian Harte on a Bosman free, should also retain his place against Blackburn on Saturday - and he is no mood to relinquish it.

But it is the mere fact he is still at the Stadium of Light which delights him the most and he has been pleased that nothing has been held against him since choosing not to move on.

"I was a bit disappointed with what went on but if the gaffer wants to bring players in that's fair enough, I just had to get my head down in training," said Collins.

"I've never wanted to leave here. It's my fourth season now, I enjoy it up here and I'm settled. I want to be up here and part of the team.

"I played 40 games last season to get the chance to be part of the Premier League again. After the disappointment of two years ago, I want the chance to improve on that and prove to myself I can do it at this level. I've been given that chance."

Sunderland eventually agreed a £2.5m fee for Higginbotham, a deal that did not include a player as part-exchange.

A clearly relieved Collins said: "I never actually spoke to Stoke. It got mentioned in the office once by the gaffer as part of a deal with Danny coming, but that was it really.

"He said the Stoke manager would get in touch but he never did to me, maybe my agent, but I never spoke to anyone from Stoke and I didn't feel that was the right move for me anyway.

"A few days went by, I was left out of the squad for the Liverpool game and you start to think about it. A few things went on here, a couple of injuries and whatever and I got back in the side.

"Things have gone pretty well for me since. I'm confident in my football again."

Higginbotham's arrival has coincided with Sunderland looking stronger defensively, despite the enforced change to a solid-looking back four following Nyron Nosworthy's knee injury.

Nosworthy could be available for the visit of Blackburn and that will mean Keane is faced with a dilemma - whether to play Paul McShane or Greg Halford at right-back.

Either way, Collins said: "I think we had the same two teams on the trot for the first time in 48 games before Nyron had that injury at the weekend.

"It was similar for the defence last season after Christmas when we had Jonny (Evans), Nyron, Danny (Simpson) and myself in most of the games and we didn't concede too many goals. If you ask any team I think that's the key, to get a settled back four."

Harte, the former Leeds and Levante left-back, has been given the number three shirt since his arrival, which is a clear sign of the position Keane would like him to fill.

But Collins, also aware Ross Wallace could play there when Kieran Richardson returns to fitness, will not worry too long about things.

"Ian's come here and he's a quality player, so I can't afford to go to sleep or he'll come into the team. I've got to stay on the ball week in, week out," said the Welsh international. "He was on to the bench on Saturday and he's a good pro and he does work hard.

"He's pushing me and it's the same in lots of positions."