 Fast emerging centre-half Danny Collins last night insisted Sunderland can embarrass FA Cup foes Everton as the buoyant Black Cats go in search of the club's latest Premiership scalp. But the former Chester City defender returns to the North West this weekend fearing for his first-team place after both Steve Caldwell and Gary Breen resumed full training yesterday. Collins and namesake Neill have forged an impressive partnership at the heart of Mick McCarthy's back four, claiming successive clean sheets against Derby and Sheffield United. And both players are desperate to test themselves against top flight opposition as last season's FA Cup semi-finalists rejoin the road to Cardiff. "We will be going to Goodison as underdogs, but we have been in good form during the last few games so we are full of confidence," explained Collins. "Everton have struggled in the last few weeks so you never know. "There could be a shock but I wouldn't say it would be a massive upset if we did win. "We are third in the Championship and I don't see that it would be too much of a giant-killing. We want to give a good account of ourselves and we will." Collins made his name as a centre-half at the Deva Stadium, but McCarthy had employed the 24-year-old as a full-back prior to both Caldwell and Breen suffering injuries. Given the opportunity to play in his favoured role, the versatile left-footer has excelled and a place in John Toshack's Wales set-up could be the youngster's reward. Mark Hughes' successor names his squad to face Hungary in a February 9 friendly later today and Collins is expected to be one of several players included for the first time. Whether the former part-timer will keep his Sunderland place remains to be seen, but McCarthy will be reluctant to dissolve a partnership which has performed so well against two of the Championship's play-off contenders. "It has been good to be playing and it's been even better playing as a left-sided centre-back," added Collins. "That is my position and it has been great to play there. I think myself and Neill have done well together in the last couple of games and hopefully that can continue. "I've not had a chance to play alongside Steve or Gary Breen in that position yet but, I had played alongside Neill for the reserves, so I think that's helped us take that form into the first team. "The two of them have been back in training so I don't know what's going to happen on Saturday. "But it would be nice to run out at Goodison Park after playing well in the last couple of games." McCarthy has made no secret of the fact that a fit Breen and Caldwell are Sunderland's first-choice centre-half partnership, but the emergence of Danny and Neill Collins means there is genuine competition for places in a key area of the Black Cats' promotion-chasing squad. And if all four of the Wearsiders' central defenders are fit for the trip to Goodison, the former Republic of Ireland boss must solve a selection poser bound to prompt debate on Wearside this weekend. | 
