SUNDERLAND centre-half Danny Collins is looking forward to dribbling round some cones in training - because it will make a change from avoiding the rabbit holes he was taking on last week.

Collins became Mick McCarthy's latest recruit when he left League Two side Chester to sign a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Stadium of Light on Monday night.

The move represents a remarkable turnaround for the 24-year-old as, just 12 months ago, he was part of the Chester side that ground out a goalless draw at non-league Burton Albion en route to winning the Conference title.

Sunderland and Sheffield United were alerted to his potential last season, with the Black Cats eventually winning the chase to his signature this week.

The difference between his new employers and the club he has left is stark, with the defender admitting he can barely believe the transition himself.

"I still can't really believe how quickly this has all happened for me," said Collins, who has made 76 senior appearances since making his first-team debut for Chester in December 2001.

"I'm delighted with the move. My agent has been pushing for it for a while, but Ian Rush (Chester manager) wanted to keep me at Chester.

"He has seen that this is a good opportunity for me to further my career though, and the manager here at Sunderland didn't have to say much to persuade me.

"It's totally different to what I've been used to. The training facilities at Chester weren't that great - there would be rabbit holes on the training pitches and things like that, nothing like the Academy of Light. "No disrespect to the other clubs in the Conference, but going to Leigh RMI on a windy January night isn't what you look forward to as a footballer.

"Now I can look forward to going to places like West Ham and big grounds like that."

First Collins will have to dislodge two internationals to force his way into the Sunderland first team.

Gary Breen and Stephen Caldwell have established themselves as McCarthy's first-choice centre backs with former Dumbarton defender Neill Collins next in line.

The new arrival accepts that he will have to prove himself in training.

But with McCarthy finalising his plans ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall, Collins has insisted he is not at Sunderland to make up the numbers.

"They have been doing well recently," he said.

"And you don't expect a winning team to be broken up. So I might have to bide my time.

"When I arrived, I was looking at some of the other players - lads who have played in the Premier League, lads who are international footballers - and it was a little bit daunting to start with.

"But I want to get into the team and I want to help Sunderland push for promotion, whether that's through the play-offs or automatically. I want to be a part of that."

The weekend will provide Collins' first chance of a Sunderland start, although a run-out against Millwall would not represent his first appearance at the Stadium of Light this season.

The defender played in Chester's 3-0 Carling Cup defeat to the Black Cats in August, and cannot wait to experience Wearside passion from a red and white perspective.

"I enjoyed the cup game," said Collins, who is likely to feature in this evening's reserve-team game with West Brom.

"It was completely different to playing in the Third Division.

"It's a lot quicker, whereas in that league it's a bit of a fight. In the Championship, you get to play more football and you have more time.

"I'm looking forward to dealing with that challenge."

* Former Sunderland and Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson has been appointed temporary first-team coach of Leicester.

Wilkinson, the one-time England caretaker coach and technical director, will work with Foxes director of football Dave Bassett, following the resignation of Micky Adams.

Bassett said: ''I spoke to Howard about helping Leicester out and he's accepted that situation.