Matty Collins has had quite a remarkable couple of months which ended this week with a call up to the Welsh squad

Just three months ago he seemed to be the forgotton man of the Liberty Stadium.   He had just one appearance under his belt for the Swans, had a loan spell at Wrexham as they dropped out of the football league and seemed destined for a season in the reserves.

But some impressive pre-season performances and the early season absence of Angel Rangel and Collins has played two Championship fixtures as well as the call up for Wales for last night's friendly against Georgia.

It seemed almost impossible to think that come the end of last season, Collins was deemed by many to be surplus to requirements at the Liberty and could well have been on his way this summer was the general speculation amongst the support but Roberto had different ideas and now has Collins ahead of Alan Tate in the right back stakes.

And with all that as a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, it is no wonder that Collins is full of life at the moment and he told the Evening Post "Yeah, it has been a mad few weeks

"It just goes to show how quickly things can turn around in football.

"I had a phone call off Roberto on Sunday night. I thought it was pretty much a routine call but he told me that I'd be training with Wales the next day.

"The squad had already been named and I was not in it, so the call-up was a huge shock, but a welcome one.

"Roberto told me that John Toshack was at the Forest game, although I didn't know until afterwards.

"But it wouldn't have mattered if I had known beforehand, I was fully focused on our game.

"I have been given the chance to start at right-back by Roberto for the first two league games, and I think that's why I was pulled in.

"It was great to be involved in training with the likes of Simon Davies, Jason Koumas, Robert Earnshaw and Freddy Eastwood

"I can only learn from being in that environment. I didn't get on against Georgia but the overall experience was a positive one.

"Since being out of the picture with Swansea to being involved with Wales has been one extreme to the next.

"I can't sit back now, I have to fight for a starting place with Swansea and hopefully that will keep me in the frame for Welsh selection.

"Angel Rangel is a top player and Alan Tate is also battling for a starting place, which means there is a lot of healthy competition in this squad.

"That can only be good for the players and manager because we are all pushing each other forward. We are not the kind of players that hold it against one another if you miss out.

"We all want to play and help the club do well, and we all respect Roberto's decisions."

Photo: Action Images

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