Paul Warne has dropped a very encouraging update on the current progress of Derby County striker James Collins.
Derby County are firmly in the mix for automatic promotion despite recording back-to-back defeats for the first time this season and a lot of that is down to the form of James Collins.
The 33-year-old has plundered 18 goals in all competitions this term, however, Paul Warne’s world was rocked when he went down injured in the Rams’ 3-0 victory over Exeter City last month.
Scans later showed that Collins would be out of action for several weeks and that was a big blow to Derby in their pursuit of automatic promotion.
In the three matches he’s been unavailable, Warne’s men have secured a last-minute winner against Stevenage and sunk to losses against Barnsley and Charlton Athletic.
While those abject displays can’t just be put down to his absence, the focal point he brings centrally and the runs he makes into the channels have been sorely missed.
Fortunately, it sounds as though the injury wasn’t as bad as first thought with Warne dropping an encouraging update on the striker.
Paul Warne drops encouraging James Collins update
Initially, supporters thought they’d lost their talismanic figure for the rest of the season while one update implied he’d be out till the middle of April.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash against Port Vale, Warne has issued a time frame of when supporters can expect him to return and it’s better than anyone could have imagined.
“James Collins is going along very well,” Warne told Rams TV. “We’ve targeted him for about three weeks.”
Massive news for Derby
You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone and that is certainly a saying that resonates well with the Pride Park faithful at the moment.
Derby have looked like a completely different team since he’s been out injured; devoid of belief, ideas in the final third and ultimately, a goal threat at the top of the pitch.
During the most pivotal point in the campaign, this type of injury layoff is what the Rams really didn’t need, although the fact he may be only out for three more weeks is an encouraging sign, especially with a fixture against Portsmouth to come at the start of April.
The £8-a-week marksman is so important to how Derby play as he links play together at the top of the pitch and uses his clever movement to outfox defenders in the penalty area.
Dwight Gayle had the difficult task of replicating his presence in the loss to Charlton Athletic in midweek, but it’s difficult to assess his performance as he was rarely involved in the final third and that is down to the lack of service aimed towards him.
If Derby can fire some quality his way, perhaps he will score the goals needed till Collins returns, but there is no doubt the latest update on his injury will please Rams supporters.