Last Updated: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:27
Sunderland star Danny Collins has revealed he almost joined Stoke as part of the deal that brought Danny Higginbotham to the club.
Boss Roy Keane was working on a deal to sign Higginbotham from the Potters when their manager Tony Pulis asked whether Collins could move in the opposite direction.
Keane offered the chance to Collins who turned it down and has gone on to become a key figure for the Black Cats this season.
"Towards the start of the season the gaffer called me in, when he was trying to sign Danny Higginbotham, and Tony Pulis wanted me as a swap deal," said Collins.
"The only game I have missed this season was the Liverpool game on the weekend of that happening. The gaffer told me to have the weekend to think about it. The next game I was in the team to face Man United.
"I said at the time that I was disappointed to have been told I could leave if I wanted, on the back of 40-odd games last season. I left (his office) after that. I didn't say anything, I got my head down, trained and I was back in the team again."