DANNY COLLINS believes Sunderland can finally focus all of their attention on the fight against relegation, having waved goodbye to a month of madness'.

Many names were linked with possible moves to the Stadium of Light last month with five new faces recruited - although none in Collins' left-back position.

While Jonny Evans, Phil Bardsley and Jean-Yves M'voto have all been drafted in to boost defensive options, the movements regarding the left-back slot were of the outgoing variety.

Ian Harte and Ross Wallace - both capable of filling in for Collins - were made available for transfer after falling out of favour under Roy Keane.

Now that the transfer window has shut Keane's playing staff are all ready to step up their push to stay in the top-flight.

Last weekend's defeat at Liverpool means the Black Cats are just two points above the drop zone, with 13 matches remaining, starting with the visit of Wigan this Saturday.

Collins said: "We are all looking to settle down and it's nice we can do that. It's been a month of madness really, with all sorts of players being linked with us.

"We have brought one or two in and this is the nucleus of our squad now. We all want to stay in the league and I feel we have enough here to do that. We can all concentrate on that again.

"When the gaffer first came in he had a look at what he had within the squad and who he wanted to keep. He has continued to make little changes.

"Players have moved on, he has added players and he added a couple more in January. I'm convinced the changes that have been made will help us achieve what we want."

Collins was initially signed by Mick McCarthy as a centre-back, and it is a mark of his attitude that he has remained such an important player in Keane's squad.

The 27-year-old has figured in more matches this season than his colleagues, despite the fact he almost left last August.

When Keane was trying to broker a deal with Stoke for Danny Higginbotham, the possibility of Collins heading in the opposite direction was raised.

"The only game I have missed this season was the Liverpool game on the weekend of that happening. The gaffer told me to have the weekend to think about it. The next game I was in the team to face Manchester United,"

said Collins.

"At the time I was disappointed to have been told I could leave on the back of 40-odd games last season. I got my head down, trained and I was back in the team again.

"Certain managers don't mind you knocking on the door and there are others who prefer you to get on with it and want to see you do it in training. Roy is that type of manager.

"He prefers to see you go out and get on with it."

Daryl Murphy is one player who could have moved on last month, after Queens Park Rangers had an offer accepted for the player.

At that time Murphy expected to be away, only for Keane to have a rethink. And the striker said: "I was just trying to get my head round it when the gaffer called me in, sat me down and said he wanted to keep me at the club and give me a run in the team, and it was then up to me to fight for my place."