Toshack open for Collins return

Danny Collins has not been named in a Wales squad since 2007

Wales manager John Toshack says the door is still open for Danny Collins to return to the international fold.

Defender Collins, who joined Stoke City for £2.75m from Sunderland on Tuesday, is a Wales outcast after falling out with national manager John Toshack.

But the 29-year-old hopes a fresh start at club level might also lead to one for his country.

"He knows he only has to pick the phone up," Toshack told the BBC's Sport Wales television programme.

"We've had this twice with Danny. I've spoken about this before, we can't keep talking about it again."

The pair first fell out in March 2006 when Collins felt he was snubbed by being kept on the Wales bench for a friendly with Paraguay.

That rift was healed when Toshack accepted an apology from Collins.

"We brought Danny in as we did with Sam Ricketts when he was virtually unknown," said Toshack.

"He came in, played with us and after one game he stormed out saying he didn't want to be involved after the Paraguay game when [Lewin] Nyatanga played.

"Carl Robinson was with him at Sunderland at the time and he had a word with him and he turned around and came back saying he would like to be involved again with us."

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But the following year Collins ruled himself out of a September World Cup qualifier double-header against Germany and Slovakia, saying he needed to become fit in order to regain his place in the Sunderland first team.

"As far as we knew that was the way it was left," added Toshack.

"If he felt he would like to come back into the squad, let us know. We can't be fairer than that."

Collins, who won the last of his six caps two-and-a-half years ago says he wants to mend his bridges with the Wales boss.

"I've got one or two things to sort out with the manager [Toshack]," he said.

"But maybe it's only a phone call away. You want to be playing for your country and so hopefully that can be sorted."

Collins became a key part of the Sunderland defence but has not been selected in a Wales squad since then.

The defender has now suddenly found himself surplus to requirements under new Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, despite captaining the Black Cats in their opening three games of this campaign.

But Collins is now eager to prove himself to Stoke manager Tony Pulis - a fellow Welshman - and potentially to Toshack.

"I was certainly impressed by what I saw and heard when I came down to Stoke," Collins said.

"I've been with Sunderland for five seasons and enjoyed every minute, especially the last couple of seasons back in the Premier League.

"But the future lies with Stoke and now I'm looking forward to a new chapter.

"They've had a great start to the season and hopefully we can maintain that."

*John Toshack is on Friday's Sport Wales programme on BBC TWO Wales at 2100 BST