Nathan Collins returns to Wolves on Sunday to play his former club for the second time since leaving Molineux.
Having signed for Wolves from Burnley for £20m in the summer of 2022, Collins was sold to Brentford for £23m after just one season.
The centre-back featured 26 times in the Premier League for the Old Gold in what was an inconsistent debut campaign.
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However, Collins has gone from strength to strength at Brentford, and the aspirations he revealed in his first interview show the type of mindset that would have been brilliant to keep at the club.
Nathan Collins wanted Wolves to ‘push for Europe’ after signing
Speaking on Wolves’ official YouTube channel after joining the club, Collins was asked what his aspirations were at Molineux over the coming years.
The Ireland international’s immediate response was, “I want to push for Europe. I think that as a group, we all want that, you know.”
Collins continued: “I think that should be the minimum of what we want to push for, but if we do that and then we can push on again and keep getting better as a team over the next five years.”
Unfortunately, the campaign started disastrously, Wolves finding themselves bottom before the break in November for the Qatar World Cup amid a run of form that cost Bruno Lage his job.
Julen Lopetegui would turn the club’s fortunes around in the second half of the season as Wolves finished seven points above the drop zone in 13th place.
Collins would be a bit-part role in that run, Lopetegui favouring Craig Dawson after signing the 35-year-old from West Ham in January 2023, contributing to his decision to join Brentford.
How Nathan Collins compares with Toti Gomes this season
Collins has played every Premier League game for Thomas Frank’s side this season, being a crucial component behind Brentford’s form.
On Wolves’ side, Toti Gomes has been Vitor Pereira’s most consistent centre-back, featuring in 30 top-flight games.
After enduring his own difficult start at Molineux, during which Lage forgot Toti Gomes existed, the Portuguese defender has been crucial to turning Wolves’ form around this season.
| Toti Gomes | Statistic | Nathan Collins |
| 30 | Appearances | 37 |
| 8 | Clean sheets | 8 |
| 6.97 | Average rating | 6.97 |
| Left | Preferred foot | Right |
| 42 | Tackles won | 23 |
| 147 | Duels won | 191 |
| 53 | Aerial duels won | 119 |
| 9 | Dribbled past | 13 |
| 24 | Interceptions | 34 |
Interestingly, a comparison of Collins’ and Toti Gomes’ main statistics from this term shows they would have complemented each other well at the back.
Unfortunately, that prospect has likely passed for good, leaving the Wolves faithful to wonder what could have been had they kept the 24-year-old.
It will nonetheless be good to welcome Collins back on Sunday, even if he may be the subject of a few boos from the Molineux faithful once again.
Moreover, with Brentford still in contention for the Europa Conference League, Collins could finally achieve the aspiration he set out after joining Wolves.