James Collins

Date of Birth : 23rd August 1983 Place of Birth : Newport, Wales Signed : July 2005 (Cardiff) Position : Centre-Half Height : 6.2 Weight : 13.1 Appearances: 36 Goals : 2 International Appearances : 12

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

The Guardian: Toshack is concerned that his first-choice centre-backs, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, were not in the West Ham line-up at the weekend for the defeat by Manchester City. "Collins had a great end to last season and Danny is now back from injury. West Ham have brought in a lot of new centre-backs and although I do not see this as a problem for the pair now, you would hope that by October they would have got a few games under their belts." (Ewan Murray, 14th August)

KUMB: Anton Ferdinand has revealed that he is looking forward to the challenge of retaining his first team spot next season.Ferdinand, who along with Matthew Upson, Calum Davenport, James Collins and Danny Gabbidon will be fighting for the two available central defensive spots revealed that he wasn't phased by the competition - and that he still saw his long-term future with the Hammers. "I definitely want to stay," he said. "I would not be at the club now if that was not the case. "I am happy to fight because if you're not playing well, you know you are not going to be playing the following week. (23rd July, 2007)