Aston Villa boss Dean Smith nearing decision on James Collins
Villa boss Dean Smith will decide in the next 48 hours whether to offer free-agent defender James Collins a short-term deal.
The former Wales international has spent the past couple of weeks training with Villa’s first-team squad after shaking off a hamstring problem.
Smith is now set to decide imminently whether to offer the 35-year-old terms.
The boss said: “James is still here training with us. He played a behind-closed-doors game last week against Yeovil, is getting minutes and getting closer to me making a decision about him.”
Skipper James Chester and Manchester United loanee Axel Tuanzebe are currently the only two recognised centre-backs in a Villa defence again under scrutiny, after conceding seven goals in the last two games.
Collins previously made 109 appearances during a three-year stay at Villa Park between 2009 and 2012. He was released by West Ham in the summer.
