CITY have not shut the door on Matt Kilgallon, Michael Collins has insisted.

The club’s player of the year was a shock omission for the first game at Shrewsbury.

His absence from the squad has raised suggestions that the experienced centre half may look elsewhere for regular football.

But on the eve of tomorrow’s tasty home opener against Barnsley, Collins praised Kilgallon’s reaction to being left out – and made it clear opportunities will be there.

City’s head coach said: “It’s obviously disappointing for someone who’s had the career Matt’s had to find himself not in the starting line-up for the first game after the season he had last year.

“But I can’t compliment how he’s carried himself and gone about his business any higher. He’s been first class.

“He’s been fantastic with me, very supportive, and I think he understands what we are trying to do. It just comes down to competition for places.

“I’ve had conversations with Matt and the door is certainly never closed for any player at this football club.

“As long as you see that hunger and fight to get back in the starting XI, whoever it is – Matt included –will get their opportunity.

“We went with a slightly different line-up and that’s all it was.

“I’ve approach every game differently. I’m not one of them who is so stubborn they will go with the same XI every week.

“Credit to Matt, he’s been fantastic and has just continued working hard to get himself back in the team.”

Kilgallon started 45 games last season – the most in the team along with central-defensive partner Nathaniel Knight-Percival. But he did not travel to Shrewsbury as Collins picked a back three of Knight-Percival, Anthony O’Connor and Kelvin Mellor.

City have made 15 summer signings but kept their powder dry as the permanent window shut yesterday. Loan moves are still available for the rest of the month.

Collins wants plenty of options at his disposal and would not want to lose Kilgallon’s experience. But he can appreciate if players out the side become frustrated.

He added: “From a selfish point of view, I’d like to keep as many people as we possibly can.

“With the kind of restrictions we’ve got with the transfer window and then loan windows closing, it’s a long period of four months before you can get reinforcements in.

“I understand people want to play football and at any point, if somebody comes to me and says that we will have a different conversation. But at this moment, I’m quite happy where we’re at.”