Derby County are closing in on promotion to the Championship but striker James Collins is desperate to achieve one of his individual goals.
A promotion showdown awaits Derby County this weekend as they travel to Cambridge United in League One.
Nerves were somewhat alleviated when Bolton Wanderers drew against Shrewsbury in midweek. But Paul Warne‘s side still have a job to complete as they require four points from their final two games to guarantee promotion to the Championship.
One man who has experienced playing in the second tier is striker James Collins. During spells at Luton Town and Cardiff City, the 33-year-old fired 27 goals in 114 appearances, including a 14-goal haul in the 2019/20 campaign for the Hatters.
Collins has become a fan favourite at Pride Park since arriving in the summer of 2022, satisfying his hunger for scoring goals in black and white.
James Collins reveals Derby County landmark he’d love to reach
All strikers set themselves goals at the start of each campaign and Collins is no different.
The Republic of Ireland sharp-shooter has taken his goal-scoring to new heights this term after finding the net 11 times in 2022/23.
Despite suffering an eight-game spell on the sidelines with torn knee ligaments, Collins has still plundered an impressive 18 goals in 44 appearances.
It’s a total that has helped carry the Rams towards the brink of promotion, but like many strikers, the former Cardiff City man is desperate to reach one magic number.
“I am desperate to get there and I hope I do,” Collins told Derby’s official website. “There was a lot of talk when David McGoldrick left last summer about who would step up and replace those 20 goals.
“I’d be grateful to hit that number. That is why the injury came at a bad time for me in February, as I was on 18 goals with 14 matches left, but that is football.”
Strikers who have hit 20 goals in one season for Derby
Hitting the 20-goal mark is normally a barometer for what supporters are looking for in a striker, and Derby have had plenty in their history, though they have been in short supply since the turn of the millennium.
Only three strikers have hit the 20-goal mark since the year 2000 and Collins has already named David McGoldrick as one of them while Matej Vydra and Chris Martin have also eclipsed that magic total.
Despite failing to score in four matches since returning from injury, Collins can join an exclusive list of Derby players by finding the net twice in his final two games.
If he can, it would not only cap off an incredible season on a personal level but firing his side to the Championship would make that achievement even sweeter.
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