Aston Villa: James Collins says Nigel Reo-Coker can still deliver the goods for Aston Villa

Oct 17 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

JAMES Collins is backing his long-term claret-and-blue colleague Nigel Reo-Coker to bounce back from his Villa woes.

Collins and Reo-Coker were team-mates at West Ham United, have renewed acquaintances at Villa Park this season and Collins knows from their lasting friendship that Reo-Coker has the character to put his problems behind him.

A training ground bust-up with Martin O’Neill knocked the former Hammers midfielder out of his stride last month.

The row came at the worst possible time for Reo-Coker who had started the season in fine form in his preferred central role.

But Collins is confident that the former England Under-21 skipper will emerge a stronger player for the experience.

“I was at West Ham with Nigel Reo-Coker and I’ve known him for a while now,” said the Welsh defender.

“I knew Nigel as a young boy. He was only probably 20 when I first met him and you could see straight away that he was a class act.

“In training, he was a fantastic player and I had two seasons with him where he did exceptionally well for West Ham.

“He’s come here and for whatever reason it hasn’t quite worked out as well as he’d have liked, but deep down I know that he’s a fantastic player.

“I’m sure if he gets the chance, he’ll come out on top.

“Nigel’s still a very young player.

‘‘I’m sure he’s looking forward to the year coming up at Aston Villa and I’m sure he’ll show us his best form.”