PFA Exclusive with Welsh defender James Collins

It’s been a busy week or so for James Collins – no sooner had he finalised a transfer deadline day switch to Aston Villa from West Ham, than he was off on international duty trying to help give Wales a World Cup qualification lifeline.

Villa beat off competition from Stoke to land the defender for a fee of around £5 million, but for now he is focusing on Wales’ qualifier against Russia at the Millennium Stadium tonight.

John Toshack’s men need to beat the Russians and both Finland and Liechtenstein away to give themselves an unlikely chance of making it to South Africa.

Q: Firstly, congratulations on your move to Aston Villa. You must be expecting stiff competition for places with the current crop of defenders and new signing Richard Dunne?

A: Yes, Richard Dunne is a fantastic signing so there is going to be competition for places. But I’ve come here to play, not sit on the bench.

There are two lads here already, and youngster Ciaran Clark has done very well. I think you need that because it keeps an edge to your performance and gets you playing well. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Q: Are all your injury problems behind you now?

A: I’m fit and playing well and have played the first few games of the season, so I’ll be looking to carry that on. It is exciting times for myself and everyone going forward at Aston Villa.

Q: What are your thoughts ahead of the game against Russia?

A: We have got to be going into games like this expecting to get something. There is some fantastic talent in the squad and there are going to be some real big stars, but the sooner we can start performing as a team and the youngsters can start taking some responsibility, the better for everyone.

Q: People are saying the future looks bright for the Welsh team, what with so many promising youngsters?

A: With the young players, they have definitely got to start delivering. We keep saying they’re young players but it’s got to come to a point where, myself included, we all step up to the plate and deliver.

I don’t think you can say the European Championships in 2012 will come too soon. There are youngsters performing week-in, week-out in the Premier League. It comes to a point where you say they’re not young any more and they have to step up.

Q: But I suppose the experience gained in this qualification campaign will be a good platform for those young players?

A: We’re looking to the next qualification campaign and we’ve got to use these games as experience. We have a lot of young players in the squad and the more chance they have of putting on a Wales shirt, the better for them and us.