NEILL Collins' hopes of a first team recall this weekend have been put on hold after Sunderland's appeal against Steve Caldwell's red card against West Ham was upheld.

In what has become largely uncommon practice this season, the Football Association confirmed yesterday that Caldwell was 'wrongfully dismissed' on Saturday after an altercation with the Hammers' Luke Chadwick.

Had the Scotsman's sending off stood, the three-match ban would have given another chance to fellow countryman Collins at the heart of the Black Cats' defence.

Collins has made five Championship starts since moving from part-time Scottish outfit Dumbarton in August, and a sixth at Cardiff on Saturday was on the cards.

Instead the 21-year-old is now resigned to sitting on the sidelines again at Ninian Park, where he will hopefully witness the understanding between Caldwell and skipper Gary Breen grow stronger at the heart of the back four.

But Collins is remaining focused on forcing his way into the reckoning.

"It's been great so far. I have had a couple of appearances for the first team so things have been going really well. It's been great to be a part of the first team squad and now I'm aiming to just push on," said the centre-back, whose last appearance was in the defeat at Millwall on November 5.

"It's great news that Steve has won the appeal and it's great for the team. If it had turned out that he was suspended then I would have used that as an opportunity for myself to show I am good enough to play every week.

"I have had a little taste of it, now I want to gain more experience from playing at that level regularly. It's the only way I'm going to come to terms with it. I would like to think I have done OK when I have played but it has been a lot different to what I was used to."

The FA's decision to rescind Caldwell's red card has delighted manager Mick McCarthy, who would have been without the defender for games with Cardiff, Burnley and Leeds.

Caldwell was dismissed by referee Graham Salisbury after appearing to stamp on Chadwick, although the player's claims have been believed by the FA.

McCarthy, whose side lost the game 2-0, said: "I'm delighted and it means we'll have Steve available for the busy Christmas period.

"There are a lot of games in a short space of time and we need a full squad. He's an honest lad and always maintained his innocence. I'd like to thank the FA for taking the time to consider it and I'm pleased that common sense has prevailed."

In the few months that Collins has been on Wearside, he has quickly settled to life in the North-East and he puts that down to the players he has around him.

Now he is aiming to play his part in helping Sunderland to the Premiership.

"It's great to be involved in such a good side," said Collins. "It has made it a lot easier to settle in, knowing I have come into a side pushing for promotion and doing well rather than playing for a side battling against relegation.

"There is a pressure on us to keep winning but that's the best sort of pressure. When I came here I expected Sunderland to be up near the top challenging and that's been the case."

Sunderland's longest-serving player Darren Williams is on the verge of completing a permanent move. The 27-year-old is on loan at Cardiff, who are hoping to complete a deal ahead of this weekend's game to ensure he plays against the Black Cats.

* Sunderland's reserve fixture against Middlesbrough next Monday has been postponed due to the FA Youth Cup.