Filed under: Euro 2012, Football, England Football
If James Collins were looking to enhance his claim to be installed as the new Wales captain, then it has hardly been the ideal build-up for him.Because while the debate rages over whether John Terry should lead England, Collins is fighting his own battle to win the armband for his country.
If having missed the last four games with a calf strain wasn't bad enough preparation though, Collins has arrived in the Wales camp with a club fine hanging over him.
Aston Villa defender Collins, along with team-mate Richard Dunne, was hit in the pocket to the tune of a reported £100,000 for getting drunk on a team bonding trip.
Whether that changes new manager Gary Speed's mind is questionable, but Collins is just trying to put his off-field woes behind him ahead of the visit of England on Saturday.
Collins said: "Obviously it has been a difficult couple of weeks at the club for various reasons.
"So to come away and get my mind on one thing which is winning on Saturday is good.
"Then there's the captaincy. The manager obviously has had time to think about it. Whoever gets it will be excited and will look forward to being the Welsh captain.
"I've said before to captain my country is one of the greatest honours you could ever have in the game so it would be fantastic."
With Craig Bellamy relinquishing the armband, Speed is planning for the long-term future rather than for just for the Euro 2012 clash.
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He is considering several candidates to lead Wales against England, with Collins favourite to get the nod ahead of fellow candidates Ashley Williams and Joe Ledley after leading his country out against Ireland last month.
Whomever he chooses, Collins insists Wales - who are ranked 116th in the world - are ready to usher in a new era by pulling off a shock.
He said: "I think they (England) will be quite worried.
"Our attacking players are as good as any team around, they are certainly going to be cautious and a full house in the Millennium Stadium will be an intimidating atmosphere for them.
"I didn't train fully but I watched from the sidelines and the boys are looking as sharp as I think I've seen at a Wales training session.
"It's a massive game and everybody is looking forward to it."
With Speed's arrival following the departure of John Toshack, Wales have the look of a more professional outfit.
Among the changes adopted is that all the players have now been ordered to learn the words for the Welsh national anthem.
Millwall's Enfield-born striker Steve Morison, among those who qualifies through a Welsh-born grandmother, says the songsheets can help Wales hit the high notes.
He said: "Gary wants all of us to have a go at singing it and that's got to be a good thing.
"It's great if the anthem stirs players and gets them passionate about playing for their country."
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