Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia has heaped praise on defender Danny Collins.

This week, he was named the supporters' association's player of the year for the second successive season having earlier been rewarded by the club with a two-and-a-half-year contract extension.

Sbragia said: "Danny is really focused - that's why we gave him a contract, because he is everything you want. He loves the club, he sweats blood for it and what we get in training is what we get in games.

"He never, ever has, for me, a bad day in training. He gives his all - even if he is injured, he wants to come and train. Sometimes, we have to hold him back, to be honest with you.

"But that's what we need, we need people like him with a big heart who are quite prepared to die for the cause. It's no surprise he has won another trophy this year. It's all the work he does in pre-season and all the work he does every day in training.

"He is a gem to work with."