MICHAEL COLLINS will be up for the battle if he gets the call against high-riding Tranmere Rovers tonight (7.45).

While the Prenton Park club had no match on Saturday because scheduled opponents Brentford were in the FA Cup, Collins made his eagerly-anticipated League I debut in Town's 1-0 win over Blackpool.

The 18-year-old midfielder did well, playing solidly after Luke Beckett's early goal and following Chris Brandon's second-half sending-off, and he's keen to continue should Danny Schofield not be fully recovered from illness.

"Tranmere are doing well this season and it's going to be a difficult game," said Collins, who trained with the first-team squad at The Barn on Sunday and Storthes Hall yesterday as manager Peter Jackson assessed the injury situation.

"If we put in the same effort and commitment as Saturday, though, and show the same attitude, then there's no reason why we can't grind out the right result."

The Republic of Ireland Under 21 cap, who is from Halifax, benefited from playing alongside eight of his Academy colleagues and has had a permanent smile glued to his face ever since.

"I couldn't have asked for more," he said of his first senior appearance.

"It couldn't have gone much better - it was a superb day both for me and the team.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room was superb, everyone was really pleased and the gaffer was chuffed to bits.

"He gave me a whole lot of encouragement, telling me to get on the ball and not be frightened and to play my usual game, which was great for me.

"And the lads around me gave me a lot of help as well, especially Nathan and Worthy, who came up beforehand and told me to relax and play my own way. Everyone was great to me."

Collins' family were in the stand to watch as he helped protect the lead when Town were down to 10 men and secure only a second win in 10 matches and only a second clean sheet in 25 League I attempts.

"I had some butterflies before the game and I had to get used to the pace, but I made a couple of good passes which helped to settle me down," he recalled.

"With eight lads who had come through the Academy, there were a lot of familiar faces around and the fans were superb. I think they really appreciated how much hard work we were putting in.

"Hopefully, now, we can keep things going after a great win for the club and, if we can come back with something from Tranmere it will be the ideal way to go into the home game against Oldham Athletic on Saturday."

Loan striker Luke Beckett - delighted his club Sheffield United have a home FA Cup replay to look forward to against Arsenal - goes into tonight's match aiming to extend his scoring run to seven in as many games.

"I was really happy with my goal on Saturday, not just because it came from a good move but because it counted for three points," he said.

"If you score and lose it doesn't really mean a lot, but to get the winner in such a good team performance by the young lads made it a great day for me.

"Maybe I might have had one or two more on Saturday, but hopefully I've saved at least one up for Tranmere.

"It's a game we are all looking forward to after the way things went against Blackpool.

"It was a big game and we came through. Blackpool have got a lot of decent, experienced players - so it wasn't a poor side that we beat with 10 men.

"It was a result from which we can all rightly take confidence."

Tranmere Rovers - Achterberg, Goodison, Jackson, Sharps, Roberts, Hall, McAteer, Harrison, Beresford, Dadi, Hume, Dagnall, Whitmore, Jennings, Rankine, Taylor, Jones, Howarth, Linwood.

Town - Rachubka, T Clarke, N Clarke, McCombe, Mirfin, Worthington, Collins, Ahmed, Abbott, Beckett, McAliskey, A Sodje, E Sodje, Brown, Lloyd, Yates, Senior.

Referee - Mike Pike (Cumbria).