Aaron Collins will watch Wales’ Euro 2024 against Croatia on Saturday in comforting surroundings, but unlike most fans dreaming of being in the thick of the action, the Bristol Rovers striker may view proceedings with a tinge of regret that, for a time, it was a realistic possibility for him.
There is a theory held among some members of the Rovers hierarchy that for all Collins’ spectacular achievements in front of goal this season - and even if he has cooled off at the wrong time, 15 goals and 11 assists in 37 appearances still make for impressive numbers - he’s been hamstrung by where he plays the majority of his football.
Not Rovers or League One, to an extent, although Barton did note players have to “catch fire” in the third tier to truly grab attention, but the modest confines of the Mem, because scouts that have checked on him for the Welsh FA reach the conclusion that, yes, it’s all well and good doing this in front of 9,500 people in north Bristol, but how can he adapt to crowds of 30,000+ at international level.
