West Ham to bring back axed defender – report

James Collins is being linked with a return to West Ham for a third spell at the club.

According to The Sun, the 35-year-old defender was told by email over the summer that he would no longer be required under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.

However, just two games into the new season, with Collins still available as a free agent , the report claims that the Hammers are considering bringing him back again.

Pellegrini will be without central defender Winston Reid for two months, while new signing Issa Diop is yet to see any action with the pairing of Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena having played in their opening two defeats.

There is understood to be a “push from behind-the-scenes” to secure a return for Collins, who first joined the Hammers back in 2005.

West Ham’s defence is not the only problem they are yet to solve…