If James Collins signs for Ipswich Town within the next 24 hours, then he would be a very useful acquisition if he can steer clear of long term injuries. Paul Hurst tried to sign him but nothing seemed to go right for our former boss, and in football, like life itself, you sometimes need a bit of luck.
At 35, I think he certainly has a couple of years left on the clock and maybe more, if he can stay fit but this is where the problems lie and obviously the older you get the more susceptible you are to niggly injuries. He has been injury prone throughout his career sadly, and the only reason he is training here these days is due to one of them, when he was on a short term deal at Aston Villa. Unlike Ipswich great Kevin Beattie however, his powers of recovery have generally been good.
He is big and physical but they are not his only attributes. He can read the game very well and will add strength and stability to our rather nervous looking defence. I think he could go along way to stemming the goal tide too and I really do believe he could be a valuable asset. Throughout his career too, he has often found the net because he is strong in the air and is a good header of the ball. What Town have lacked more recently is goals from the back, and Luke Chambers has failed to get on the scoresheet all season which is unusual in itself. But he is not here to score goals. On the contrary, his primary job will be to keep them out!
Paul Lambert may include him in his squad for our home game to Rotherham United on Saturday if he signs shortly; and we can expect to see new incumbents Simon Dawkins, Collin Quaner and Callum Elder and Will Keane involved at some stage. There could be a place on the bench for Emyr Huws and Cole Skuse is also nearing a return appearance.
F.W. – editor of Vital Ipswich
