Nathan Jones revealed how he’s told Luton hitman James Collins to stop chasing full backs after the goal hero headed the winner at Swansea today.
The Republic of Ireland international netted his 12th of the campaign with a powerful nod in the 73rd minute to win 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium and lift Luton off the foot of the Championship.
Jones signed Collins from Crawley when Luton were in League Two and he netted 46 times in two seasons to fire Town to the Championship in back-to-back promotions.
But despite still scoring in the second tier, there had been much frustration from supporters this season that the marksman was asked to be too defensive under former boss Graeme Jones.
After the Welsh Jones returned for a second spell in charge last month, Collins hoped he’d be deployed in a more central role and so it has proved.
The manager said: “We’ve tried to limit certain things that he does, because he’s such a keen runner and he wants to run everywhere, he wants to chase full backs.
“He’ll do it, but he’s been central and you get him central and give him service, he’ll score goals at whatever level.
“He’s an international now, which when we bought him from Crawley, that’s what we told him, so he’s bought into everything we’ve told him.”
The assist came from substitute Izzy Brown, who helped halt a strong Swansea start to the first half when he was introduced on the haur mark.
The Chelsea loanee, who is one of the division’s top creators, had to settle for a place on the bench after starting last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Preston. But he made a big impact when he whipped in a cross for Collins to attack.
“We said to Izzy, we were going to bring him on when the game opens up,” Jones explained.
“We wanted 90 minutes work from 30 because he has to up that. And if he does that and gets himself in the game, the lad has quality and he showed that.”
