Nathan Collins insists he is staying level-headed despite being dropped from the Wolves first XI in recent weeks. The 21-year-old joined Wolves for £20.5 million in the summer and has impressed in his first campaign at the club. However, following Julen Lopetegui’s appointment, Collins has seen his game time reduced. He hasn’t started any of Wolves’ last eight Premier League games, and has featured three times off the bench in that time. January signing from West Ham, Craig Dawson, appears to have taken his place in the starting side, but the Ireland international is isn’t sulking about the situation.
Nathan Collins said: “I look after myself. If I’m not playing, I still do the right things… I’m in the gym. When you’re not in the team, you get to work on different things you can’t work on when you’re in the team. I took the positives out of it, I made the best out of it and I worked on what I needed to work on. I’ve been here before, to be fair. There have been spells that I haven’t played. I’ve a good background behind me looking after me and keeping me well. Me, my family, and everyone behind me, we’re strong, we’re willing to go work hard again and get back into the team. That’s what I’m about, that’s who I am, and that’s my personality. There are ups and downs. As I say, don’t get too high, and don’t get too low. It is what it is.”
Asked what Lopetegui has said about to him about being dropped,
Nathan Collins said: “He didn’t say any reason or certain reason why. He just wanted to change it up, which is not a problem. He just said keep working hard and I’ll get my chance soon, so that’s all I can do in the meantime.”