http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Leeds-sign-defender-Collins-to.6175399.jp
Leeds sign defender Collins to replace injured Kisnorbo
Published Date:
24 March 2010
By Richard Sutcliffe
LEEDS United last night moved to plug the gap left by the injury which
has scuppered Patrick Kisnorbo's World Cup dream.
Scottish central defender Neil Collins signed on loan from Preston North
End until the end of the season after the Australian's season was ended
by a nasty Achilles injury in Monday's 2-0 home defeat to Millwall.
It was a defeat which left Leeds manager Simon Grayson warning that his
players had better start rolling up their sleeves or risk being shown
the door. On Kisnorbo's loss, Grayson added: "Paddy has been outstanding
and I am absolutely gutted as it seems his dream of playing in the World
Cup is over."
The manager's mood will have been lifted by the capture of Collins, 26,
who only signed a three-and-a-half-year deal for Preston after a
£600,000 move from Wolves in January and who is set to go straight into
the side to face League One leaders Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday.
The Troon-born centre-back has also played for Sunderland – he had a
two-game loan spell with Sheffield United four years ago – and has made
23 appearances for Preston this season, the last in a 5-3 Championship
defeat at Derby last month.
Top scorer Jermaine Beckford, who missed the Millwall game through a
hamstring injury, could also be back at Norwich as Leeds aim to get
their automatic promotion challenge back on track.
Grayson said: "The players have to look at themselves and think what
they could have done better. We have to look at ourselves as a staff to
see what we could do better.
"Anyone who doesn't want to roll up their sleeves might as well
disappear out of the football club. We are playing with a bit of anxiety
but we have to be brave enough to cope with that.
"We need people with character to take this club up. I still believe we
can do that.
"I am very confident we can turn it round. Things are not happening but
I believe we will succeed.
"We were disappointing against Millwall and Southampton, but in the
previous game at Tranmere we were excellent. We have to get back to that
sort of performance."
The defeat to Millwall means Leeds have taken just 15 points from 14
games since the turn of the year.
With Saturday's trip being followed by a home game against promotion
rivals Swindon on Easter Saturday, Grayson knows his side must improve –
and fast.
He said: "It was not good enough. Millwall were the better team. They
did the right things better and it is disappointing, especially as in
that dressing room we have players who can do a lot more to affect
football matches.
"When we are at our best, we have flair and imagination. But we showed
neither.
"We did not test their goalkeeper, which is disappointing for a team
sitting second and playing at home."
Hull City winger Stephen Hunt is hoping to return for Saturday's crucial
clash against Fulham after a month on the sidelines.
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