Danny Collins recently spoke to the Millers' matchday programme...
THERE is an old cliché in football that there is no substitute for experience, well veteran centre-half Danny Collins has it by the bucket load!
The Welsh international has plied his trade in the higher echelons of the footballing sphere for the majority of his career and the Millers will be looking to his steadying influence at the heart of their defensive rearguard to steer the club to Championship survival for the second successive season.
The ex-Nottingham Forest defender was signed to fill the void vacated by the likes of Icelandic international Kari Arnason and former club skipper Craig Morgan, who moved onto pastures new last summer after previously being cornerstones of the club’s meteoric rise through the basement divisions.
Despite suffering a baptism of fire during the heavy opening-day defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Milton Keynes Dons, Collins has been an ever-present in the Millers’ side, who are gradually finding their feet following a busy recruitment drive in the summer.
Following the eye-catching victories over Cardiff City and Birmingham City, and an encouraging display against Burnley, Collins believes his side are finally starting to reap the rewards of their work on the training ground.
“We had a lot of new lads come in and in some ways, it takes a little time to get to know each other and time to gel,” he said.
“Although pre-season did go pretty well for us, the first game of the season was a bit of a wake-up call for us and knocked the stuffing out of us.”
During his footballing career, Collins has certainly been there and got the T-shirt after successful spells at the highest level with Sunderland and Stoke City. His ability to lead from the front was no more in evidence during his nurturing of young centre-half Farrend Rawson, with the teenager at the other end of the footballing spectrum to Collins as he looks to learn his trade in the no-holes barred environment of the Championship.
“Frecks got the captaincy recently but he’s picked up an injury so I’m happy to fill in and take it and lead the boys.” he said.
“I’ve captained before and I’m delighted to do it if called upon to do so.
“I speak to Faz in training and mention one or two things in games. He’s a young boy, who is learning the game and he’s only going to get experience by playing games. The more games he plays, the more confidence he is going to get.”