collins was reunited with his former boss mick mccarthy at wolverhampton wanderers after joining the club on loan in november 2006. the discussion of his loan deal was the first time that roy keane and mccarthy had spoken to each other since the saipan incident in 2002. after his loan expired, he joined wolves permanently in january 2007 for a fee of £150,000. he was a regular starter for the rest of the 2006–07 season as the club reached the championship play-offs.