BATTLING HATTER’S MILESTONE

JAMES COLLINS reckons the 500-game milestone he will reach in this afternoon’s clash between Chelsea and Luton is the final vindication of his bold decision to leave Aston Villa for Shrewsbury Town a decade ago.

Republic of Ireland star Collins, 30, had made his way through the ranks at Villa Park and was offered the chance to extend his stay under Martin O’Neill.

But he was under no illusions that he would struggle for game time – and took the risk of dropping down the tiers.

Collins (left) has scored goals wherever he has gone since and, after joining Luton in 2017, he has played his part in the Hatters’ march through the divisions, earning six international caps on the way.

He said: “To get to 500 games away at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup, it makes it all worthwhile.

“Taking that leap out of my comfort zone in 2011 to go and play in League Two and have that career path, this definitely makes everything worthwhile. When I was at Villa, they were a top-six side, finishing in Europe, with big players and you had everything done for you. The training ground was lovely. Villa Park too.

“But when you get a chance to go out into men’s football in the big world, you come out of digs and have your own place – and that was what I wanted to do.

“Martin O’Neill was brilliant with me, but I explained that I wanted to go out and try to make a name for myself, and he agreed to let me go for free. I was 19 or 20 and went to

Shrewsbury... and here I am, 500 games later.”

Collins – called ‘James Collins Junior’ by O’Neill and his staff in the days when the player’s older, 51-cap Welsh namesake, now retired, was at Villa too – still aspires to testing himself at the top level.

He added: “I’ve managed to get myself into the Championship and international level now, so the next step for me is to work hard and get to the Premier League.

“I’ve only just turned 30 and I still feel I’ve plenty more to give, so, hopefully, one day that can happen.”