Wolves boss' praise for Collins

Mick McCarthy has thanked Neill Collins for helping Wolves through their left back emergency without grumbling.

Collins celebrates a year at Molineux this month in good heart after scoring a second match-winner of the season last weekend while underlining his flexibility to Wolves boss McCarthy by filling the problem No.3 position with growing assurance.

McCarthy has lost experienced specialist Michael Gray to injury - although the 33-year-old former Sunderland man did make a 45 minute comeback for the reserves last night - and suggests Collins will again be on duty at left back for the Black Country derby.

But his Wolves manager has every confidence in Collins continuing to fill the breach while assuring the 24-year-old Scot he has not forgotten what his best position is.

"Neil was signed as a centre half where he is naturally suited and more comfortable on the ball. If you have to play on the left or the right, you almost feel unbalanced to start with.

"But he's really getting better and better in that position now and we know he's a real threat from corner kicks and set pieces because he is powerful in the air."

•Lee Collins, the 19-year-old Academy graduate from Telford, joined Hereford United on a month's loan last night after coming agonisingly close to first team football for his parent club this season.