Collins happy that he knows quite a few in Rams squad
NEW Derby County striker James Collins should have no trouble settling in with the Rams – he already knows a string of the players who will be his new team-mates.
“A lot of players I know have signed for the club so that was a big factor and we’ve built a great squad so far, so I’m excited to come here and be a part of it,” said Collins.
“I know Richard Stearman really well. I know Conor Hourihane and Jason Knight from Ireland and David McGoldrick, too.
“I know Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as well, so I know four or five of them quite well.
“I spoke more with Stears (Stearman) about the club and he put in a good word for me.
“He was always on the phone seeing how it was going.
“It took a while but I’m really glad that I can get a couple of weeks under my belt before the start of the season.”
Collins says he is desperate to get going now that he has signed a two-year deal at Pride Park.
The 31-year-old former Cardiff City player was linked with a move to Portsmouth this summer.
Collins has admitted there were “talks and interest” for his services
but the attraction of playing with a number of his friends with the Rams was a crucial factor behind his decision to move to the Midlands.
Collins was born in Coventry and began his career with Aston Villa, being loaned by them to Burton Albion for a short spell in 2010.
“I’m really excited and I’m desperate to get back playing football again and scoring goals,” he said.
“I spoke to the manager at Cardiff last year and he explained to me that he wanted to go down a different route, which is fine.
“It’s football and it happens and this move happened during the summer.”