Prospect rewarded in first-team opportunity
UP-AND-COMING midfield playmaker Michael Collins seems certain to be the latest of Town's young guns to feature at first-team level.
The 18-year-old was watched by manager Peter Jackson playing in the Reserves' 1-0 win at Darlington yesterday afternoon and was immediately added to the senior squad.
Halifax-born Collins may well now feature on the bench in Saturday's crucial League I tussle with in-form Blackpool at the Galpharm Stadium, when Jackson has injury problems to resolve and leading scorer Pawel Abbott suspended.
His selection comes hot on the heels of Tom Clarke's debut against MK Dons last weekend and just days after he returned from La Manga, where Collins played with and captained the Republic of Ireland Under 19s.
It also comes with striker Andy Booth sidelined for two to three weeks because of a groin injury, which means John McAliskey is likely to step up this weekend.
"Michael is added to the squad because he is an excellent prospect," said Jackson today.
"He has been away on duty with his international side on a couple of occasions in the last month and I think he's not only enjoyed it, but he has befefited from it as well.
"Just like Tom Clarke, Michael has been training with the first team for the past few weeks and, with the way things are going, that will be a permanent thing from now onwards."
Jackson was today checking on the fitness of left-back Rob Edwards, who was forced off suffering a knock to his right leg in the defeat at Milton Keynes and is still under treatment.
Centre-back David Mirfin - who collided with Edwards and suffered a mild concussion - was back in training today along with Chris Brandon (Achilles).
