James Collins is a refreshing player in the modern era, according to Luton manager Graeme Jones, who says the striker will come back from his dream Ireland debut and benefit his club side even more.
If the 28-year-old plays on at QPR on Saturday it will be his 100th appearance for the club and if he scores he’ll reach his 50th goal in two seasons and seven games.
A goal almost every other game, but also a phenomenal work-rate, has seen Collins become a talisman for Town and he finally got on the pitch for the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, scoring 26 minutes in after starting the flowing move, to complete the 3-1 scoreline against Bulgaria.
He returned to Luton today and boss Jones said of his goalscoring record for the club: “That’s a great record any level. I’m really pleased with him. He is in a good moment he’s worked extremely hard.
“Darren Moore had him at Burton and spoke so well off him. His character, I love, because he’s been through the leagues, he knows what it’s about and he doesn’t take anything for granted.
“He appreciates everything is got, he makes the most of everything he’s got. He still wanting to learn, still wanting to do more and I think we need to embrace players like that – they’re very refreshing in the modern era.”
“When a player is wanting to listen and wanting to learn and wanting to improve, he will get better. It’s when a player thinks that he’s arrived and James never thinks like that. He’s not that type of character.”
Asked what a whirlwind week in Dublin can do for Collins and Luton, Jones said: “I think it will give us more. For him, he is now a Championship player and an international for a really good international level.
“The mental step that we keep talking about, he’s made it now with Ireland. He’s made his debut and scored, so he can feel valuable. He’s contributed and doesn’t feel out of his depth.
“If anything, it was typical James Collins, he revelled in it, so I think we’ll feel the benefits of that.”
Jones was watching the England game against Kosovo on the television, but switched television channels as soon as he saw that Collins had come off the bench for Ireland on the hour mark.
He said: “It was a typical James Collins performance, one full of courage and the character, who doesn’t get phased by anything. He gave them a presence, put himself around, got hold of the ball, (there were) some nice touches at times and then he wanted to score goals. He was in the box because he wants to score goal and I think he got rewarded for it.
“It’s the measurement of all his work. Maybe if you didn’t go through the period with us for eight games, six in the league, he might not have been ready for that level. The challenges, he’s took on the chin every step of the way, and maybe that’s helped him for his Republic of Ireland debut.
“He is a brave character. He’s come on and thought, ‘I’ll have a go’. I think anybody respects that.”
It’s often said that a player hits their peak around the age of 28 and with Luton, Collins’ rise has been remarkable. Asked how much better the forward can get, Jones said: “I think he can improve in certain areas. We worked at certain things today.
“I think always when a player is wanting to listen and wanting to learn and wanting to improve, he will get better. It’s when a player thinks that he’s arrived and James never thinks like that. He’s not that type of character.
“You’re always going to get adaptation with James Collins, because it’s a simple formula – he trains every day and he plays every game. So that gives him an opportunity to grow, to improve and I don’t see that changing.”
