Club News

Watch | Nathan Jones' pre-Nottingham Forest press conference

Striker James Collins is in contention for tomorrow’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Nottingham Forest, manager Nathan Jones has revealed.

sw5066_nj.jpg

After adhering to the coronavirus protocol following a positive test, Town’s top scorer this season could feature against the Reds at Kenilworth Road.

“He’s done everything that he needs to do, so in theory he does become available, so we’ll see," said the Welshman. "It’s thick and fast the games, so whatever we decide to do, we’ll have to wait and see, but he is available because he’s stuck to all the protocols.

“James is very good, very fit, this won’t do him any harm, but with James it’s about controlling him as he’s one of the ones who can do too much, so ironically, he probably benefited from the rest. There’s one or two that could really do with that, but with the games the way they are, it’s difficult.

“We think we’ve got good strength in our squad, we’ve got good options. We’re maybe not as blessed with the budget of others in the division, but we’ve got a really strong squad and I thought Danny’s been wonderful I really do.

“He’s missing a goal at the minute, which is what’s catching everyone's eye. But all round performance at the weekend was outstanding.

“We’re in a good place, we’ve got Harry Cornick as well coming back in, so we’re in a decent place. Sam Nombe has different options, so we've got four strikers there who can really impact.”

Whilst there are still consideration as to whether James Bree and Dan Potts will be ready in time to face Nottingham Forest, Tom Lockyer made his first league start of the season on Saturday and impressed the manager.

Adopting a new formation, the team kept a third league clean sheet of the season and the Welsh international was integral to achieving that.

“He’s had a bit of a stop-start introduction to life here, because been away with internationals then he picked up an injury that curtailed him a little bit, but I thought he’s been excellent in the games," said the manager.

“He was excellent at Reading, Man United, exactly the same at the weekend. So we’re very pleased with him.

"We brought him here for certain reasons. He adds certain stuff to us and he’s proved that, and I think everyone’s put in a shift. We have reiterated we are going to have weeks like we had last week. That happens to top sides. That happens to Man United, that happens to Man City, happens to everybody.

“It’s how we react, how we utilise everyone and everyone then is in a good place because we made a couple of changes for the weekend and they all embraced it and took it on board."

Related Content

  1. 01
  2. 02
  3. 03