McAndrew Selects Our Next Young Gun

Tony McAndrew believes that James Collins has all the potential to make next season the year he becomes a household name.

The young striker is part of a dying breed as McAndrew describes him as your typical old school centre forward. But this season hasn't been too bad for the lad if you consider him a dinosaur in the modern game.

The Republic of Ireland U19 has put the ball in the back of the net 28 times for our U18 team and found the net 3 times when called up to the reserves, including one goal in the recent Play Off final against Sunderland.

Our reserve team guru thinks that Collins isn't far off first team action as long as he keeps developing the way he has done this season.

Speaking on the official site the reserve league winning gaffer said:

'James is a big influence on the team. When James plays well we generally play well.

'He's very important to the side and he's been in a good vein of form. It's important for him as well because there is a lot of competition at the club with strikers.

'James is a different kind of striker to the other young lads we've got, but what he does do is score goals.

'He hasn't got blistering pace but he's got ability. He holds the ball up well, he's a good target, his work ethic is absolutely fantastic and he never lets centre halves have a minute's rest. To a point you could say he is a bit old fashioned.

'I have a lot of time for James. He works hard and if he keeps working hard he'll be fine.'

We've definitely got a good bunch coming through, be interesting to see how many make it to be honest.

For the very latest Premier League odds




Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.