Stan Collymore claims he is ready and waiting for a recall after Aston Villa boss John Gregory apparently offered the controversial striker an olive branch.

Gregory had made it clear while Collymore was on loan at Fulham earlier this season that the 28-year-old striker had no part in his plans. But with Villa taking just two points from their last six games and Collymore rejecting the chance to join Nottingham Forest on loan, Gregory could be ready to hand the errant star a shock recall.

``I want to play for this club more than I have ever done,'' said Collymore. ``I do not want to sit in the reserves and pick my money up. I signed a contract when I came to Villa and it is still my intention to see it out.''

Collymore has not started an FA Carling Premiership match since Villa lost 3-0 at home to Chelsea in March, but Gregory was expected to watch the player turn out for the reserves at Bradford tonight. If the £7million striker impresses at Valley Parade and against Newcastle reserves on Monday, he could even be back in the first team for the visit to Coventry on November 22.

``I am prepared to look at anybody who is ready to give everything for this football club and who is prepared to put his head down and work hard,'' Gregory told the Express and Star.

The under-fire Villa boss added: ``I won't run away and hide and I don't expect the players to do that either. ``I won't shirk the responsibility. In my job you accept the upside and you also have to be prepared to accept the criticism.'