Port Vale defender Lee Collins wants to 'bulk out'

Collins is closing in on a century of league appearances in his career

Port Vale defender Lee Collins says he is determined to become a more physically dominant player.

The former Wolves and Hereford centre-half, 21, has been a regular in Micky Adams' starting line-up, missing one game this season through illness.

"I'm happy with my performances at the moment, but there's still improvement to do," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I need to be more dominant and I need to bulk out a bit because I'm not the biggest defender in the world."

With Collins part of a three-man backline alongside Gareth Owen and John McCombe for much of the campaign, Vale have conceded 22 goals in 20 league matches.

They are away at Northampton on Saturday, where Collins may be handed the task of marking Adebayo Akinfenwa, one of the most physical strikers in League Two.

"He's not going to look for the channels, so it's not going to be about chasing him as much," said Collins.

"I'm not going to try and battle him, because he's much bigger than me. I've got to try and use my advantages against him."

Owen may be fit for the trip to Sixfields after recovering from an operation to repair a fractured cheekbone.