Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is confident James Collins will be ready for the opening game of the season against Fulham on Saturday. Wales international Collins is a slight doubt for the game as he is nursing a back problem.
McLeish said: "We hope he (Collins) will be ready. We have high hopes that James will be okay.
"He did suffer a back problem which resulted in the missing of the Braga game (Villa's final pre-season friendly) and withdrawing from the Wales squad.
"We thank the Welsh FA for their co-operation in this."
