Collins is confident of being fit for Wales' September qualifiers
James Collins is targeting Wales's World Cup qualifiers in September to make a return after a shock recovery from serious knee ligament damage.
West Ham defender Collins, 24, suffered the injury in January and was told he'd be out for a year.
He said: "I hoped to come back for the start of the Wales campaign. The way I'm going it looks do-able so as long as I keep progressing. I feel strong.
"I don't see a reason why I can't have a chance of playing in those games."
He added: "If someone had told me when I did it I'd be back playing again at the start of September I'd have taken it."
Collins hopes to get back into action with the Hammers reserves, the team he was playing for against Portsmouth when he suffered the injury as he recovered from a groin problem.
"I may play a few reserve games in the middle to the end of August and then be available for full first team games, probably at the start of September."
Wales manager John Toshack has spoken of Collins as a potential captain and will welcome the news as they prepare for the qualifying campaign.
Azerbaijan visit the Millennium Stadium on 6 September and Wales travel to Russia four days later.
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