Hibs’ striker James Collins is hoping that the new tactics employed by Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas will lead to an increase in his goal tally following a poor start to his Easter Road career after a big money move from Swindon Town in the summer.
Speaking at the weekly press conference ahead of this weekend’s game against St Mirren, the 22 year old said: “The manager has pinpointed changes he wants; he wants us to push up the park and get a lot more attacking crosses into the box. He’s drilled that into us in the past week and obviously he wants us to work harder than the opposition, which we’ve been working on as well. Strikers need opportunities to get the ball into the net, so when you’ve got a manager that wants to get the ball into the box as often as possible then, as a striker, you can’t ask for any more.”
We’ve had a couple of double sessions last week and this week. The boys are fit here anyway. Nobody’s saying they weren’t fit, but there’s that high intensity now the new manager has come in because we all want to do well.”
The tactics are not the only change at the training centre following the departure of Pat Fenlon as Collins explained: “The gaffer’s got a great sense of humour; he has a laugh with the boys. We have meetings and we have things like the worst player in training has to make the coffees for the staff. Little bits like that get the team morale going and gets everyone wanting to work hard and do well for the manager. I’ve had to make the coffees once. Me and Owain Tudur Jones made them because it was a split decision. That sort of stuff is always good for the team spirit. It’s a good set of lads here and I think they’re all an honest, hard-working bunch.”
The Republic of Ireland Under 21 internationalist is hoping to partner fellow countryman Paul Heffernan up front against an on-form St Mirren side who have won four of their last five games, and believes that this partnership can pay dividends for the remainder of the season.
“In Paul’s career, he’s scored a lot of goals wherever he’s gone,” said Collins. “I don’t know what the gaffer’s going to do for Saturday, or what formation he’s going to play, but if he gives the two of us the nod then hopefully we can hit the ground running. I think once one goes in there will be many more to come.”
Meanwhile, Hibs are considering an appeal against a touchline ban imposed on Terry Butcher following an incident in a League Cup tie against Dundee United when he and Darren Jackson were ordered from the technical area.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
