Having missed two Premier League weekends on the trot through domestic cup duties, Aston Villa return to action with the first of two consecutive Double Game Weeks.

Investment in Martin O’Neill’s squad will understandably be high, and with Villa’s favourable run-in (plus, following the postponement of their weekend GW34 match with Everton, they may, unless the Everton game is re-scheduled midweek, have two more yet-to-be-scheduled outstanding doubles) any transfers in could easily be considered “keepers” from here on in.

Whilst the likes of Richard Dunne and James Milner are the most obvious choices, there are definite bargains to be had amongst the Villa team. Priced at just £4.5m, James Collins falls firmly into that category…

Earlier this season, Collins was in sparkling form alongside Dunne in central defence, and had impressed his manager to such an extent that O’Neill talked of him as a possible future captain of the club.

A groin injury suffered against former club West Ham in November sidelined the Wales skipper for a couple of months but having now fully recovered, he has played every minute of Villa’s league games since the turn of the year. His recent performances that have helped maintain the club’s run as the only unbeaten club in the Premiership for 2010.

Collins return to central defence has seen Carlos Cuellar shift to right back in O’Neill’s preferred line-up, and he has subsequently caught the eye of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Point judges, scoring more bonus than any Villa defender since coming back to the first-team fold. Villa’s defence have been the foundation of their success this season, and with eleven clean sheets, have only two less than Chelsea, having played two fewer games.

A great “differential”, Collins currently has just 6.5% of FPL owners compared to fellow centre half Dunne at 40%, who is also currently £2.1m more expensive. With Villa’s next five gameweeks now confirmed as: (stk & wig, WLV & SUN, che, bol, EVE), Martin O’Neill’s team will be looking to turn up the pressure in this season’s close-run battle for fourth and James Collins could and should have a big part to play.