After a superb scoring streak that was pivotal in turning Bristol Rovers's season around, Aaron Collins is enduring something of a dry spell in front of goal, but that has not stopped manager Joey Barton from singing his praises.
Collins has not scored in his past seven starts, but with 13 goals in all competitions, the 24-year-old remains Rovers' top scorer this term. After joining last summer from Forest Green Rovers, Collins took 19 games to get off the mark, but he found form in front of goal after a stunning strike against Oxford United in the FA Cup in November broke his duck.
He went on to reel off 11 goals in 17 League Two games, from mid-December to March, delivering multiple defining moments and man of the match performances. But the games have got tighter as the pressure of the run-in rises and Collins, while continuing to lead the line with great vigour, has seen the fewer chances in front of goal.
Barton, however, has made clear he has no concerns at all over Collins' returns on the scoresheet, insisting he is an essential piece in the tactical puzzle for the Gas. The Rovers boss likened Collins' role to that of Liverpool hero Roberto Firmino, who has often facilitated the prolific scoring records of strike partners Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
"He’s a massive player for us," Barton said. "Even without scoring every week, his performances are huge. If he plays well, we tend to play well as a team.
"He’s come in with his goals when he’s needed them, but it’s more about his overall performance. The running he does, the half-spaces he picks up, back to goal he comes and gets battered by centre-halves.
"He plays such a pivotal role for the team. The back three for Port Vale on Monday, the worst thing for a back three is having nobody to mark. What they want is two big centre-forwards pushing up against them.
"Azza drops in, plays in those spaces in between and creates overloads. He moves the back three around and then finds the seams to run the channel.
"I think his overall performance is superb. He really puts a shift in for the team, really reminiscent in my opinion of Roberto Firmino when he was starting to do really well at Liverpool. One of the critiques labelled at him is he didn’t score enough goals, but Azza’s running patterns and movement allow other people opportunities."
Collins was signed by Barton to play a supplementary attacker, either out wide or as a number 10, rather than as an attacking spearhead. But after the acquisition of Brett Pitman did not pan out as hoped, the Welshman was needed as a number nine.
The manager is both grateful and delighted for his efforts and performances for the team, with his unselfish style proving crucial in transforming Rovers into the attacking threat they are today.
Barton said: "He puts that selfless performance out every week and it wasn’t where I envisaged playing him when we signed him, but out of necessity he’s gone through the middle in the number nine and played there in his own way.
"I think he’s done remarkably well. I think he would definitely benefit from playing with a big physical nine because it would allow him to do other things, but in this team and the way we play, Azza has found his niche."
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