Collins so grateful to be able to play a part for Rams in the run-in
BUT STRIKER FRUSTRATED NOT TO DEFEAT POMPEY
JAMES Collins has hailed Derby County’s medical staff after they “worked wonders” to enable him to be fit for the club’s promotion push.
Collins returned to Paul Warne’s squad for the 1-0 win over Blackpool on Good Friday only six weeks after it was feared his season was over due to knee ligament damage sustained in a win away against Exeter City in February.
But the club’s top scorer avoided surgery and underwent innovative platelet replacement therapy, in which samples of his blood were taken, spun and injected back into the knee.
That helped his ligament attach back to the bone and with Collins looking after himself off the pitch, the 18-goal forward is back for the run-in. And the former Cardiff City striker says the Rams’ medical team have been crucial to his return. “The knee is fine,” he said. “I managed to get back a lot quicker than when I first got the scan because we thought it’d be the season done.
“But the doctor and the physios have worked wonders on me. I am not 100% pain-free but it’s manageable now.
“I’ve just got to get on with it and I wanted to be back to try to help the lads as much as I can until the end of the season. I am just thankful that I can be out on the pitch, where the aim is to see us over the line.”
Collins demonstrated once again how valuable he is to the Rams’ hopes of Championship football next season with an assist for Joe Ward’s second goal in the 2-2 draw away against Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
The Rams had led 2-1 at Fratton Park until substitute Owen Moxon rescued a point for Pompey with a 25-yard rocket that kept them five points ahead at the summit.
Reflecting on the point, Collins said: “I thought we limited them to very little and I was disappointed not to win.
“In the end, I thought we did enough to deserve the three points. And I think when you’re 2-1 up with 20 minutes to go, you are confident you can see it out.
“But they’re at the top of the league for a reason and they’re always a threat. I think it was a good point looking back now but I was disappointed on the night that we didn’t get three.
“The reaction in the dressing room was a bit mixed. Some thought the point would be a good point but I think when you are 2-1 up you get greedy.
“You want all three, especially when the goal was avoidable. We can take heart from that performance and for me, in my opinion, we’re a better side.
“They’re (Portsmouth) just a lot more consistent and they know how to win games. They don’t lose many and that’s why they are top of the league.”
DERBY County have confirmed that their partnership with Umbro will
end this season. The Rams will have a new kit supplier for the 2024-25 campaign as the club end a 10-year association with Umbro.
Derby enjoyed the most successful era in their history when they were wore the famous double Umbro diamond, winning League titles in 1972 and 1975.
The Rams linked up with Umbro again in the summer of 2014 but after a decade of working together, the agreement between them will finish once this season is over.
Rams chief executive Stephen Pearce said: “After 10 years with
Umbro, we will be partnering with a new kit supplier for next season.
“Our current agreement with Umbro is coming to a natural end on good terms.
“We’ve enjoyed working with them since 2014, built some strong relationships and we thank them for their support and professionalism over the years.”
The Rams are yet to announce who will be their new kit supplier for next season.
The club say they will provide an update when they are in a position to do so.