GWENT Premier League star James Collins could miss the rest of the season after picking up a knee injury in a West Ham reserve game.

The Newport-born Wales defender, 24, has had terrible luck with injuries over the last two years and will miss Wales' friendly next week's against Norway.

Collins suffered suspected ligament damage to his right knee in last Wednesday's game against Portsmouth played at the home of FA Cup giant-killers Havant and Waterlooville.

West Ham assistant manager Mervyn Day, who was watching from the sidelines, said: "It wasn't the best pitch in the world but that had nothing to do with James' injury.

"Having seen it again on the video, it looks such an innocuous challenge. He has fallen awkwardly, the opponent has fallen on top of him and all of a sudden you are looking at some considerable time out of the picture."

Collins had forced himself back into the first-team squad recently and had appeared as an unused substitute in the last three league matches.

Fellow Gwent man and Wales team-mate Danny Gabbidon also played in last week's midweek game.

The Cwmbran-born defender came through the match unscathed after suffering his own groin troubles.

And Craig Bellamy also had no problems in that game, his first in three months after an abdominal injury.

The striker could be in contention for a return to West Ham's squad for Wednesday's Premier League visit of Liverpool.

Both Bellamy and Gabbidon could be named in John Toshack's squad for the Norway match on February 6 in Wrexham.

Wales Under-21's are playing an important Uefa qualifier a day before the friendly, so Toshack is thought to be likely to resist the temptation to promote players from Brian Flynn's squad.

As revealed in the Argus earlier this month, Cardiff City's Newport-born striker Paul Parry has patched up his differences with Toshack.

But he is unlikely to be recalled for this friendly but he could well feature in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers later in the year.

Gareth Bale is another notable absentee with the Spurs attacking full-back continuing his rehabilitation from a foot injury.

l The Wales squad was announced at midday today, check the Argus website www.southwalesargus.co.uk