Nathan Collins Doubt for Ireland’s Nations League Start Due to Injury

Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of the Nations League after suffering a calf injury with Brentford.

The centre-back was forced off during Brentford’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland in the Premier League last weekend, and the damage is serious enough to rule him out until after the upcoming international window.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews confirmed the setback ahead of his side’s game against Bournemouth, delivering the kind of update Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson did not want to hear.

“No, he won't be involved this side of the international break. Unfortunately, he's picked up a calf injury,” Andrews said, adding that the defender, capped 40 times by Ireland, had tried to battle on before accepting he could not continue.

“He probably felt it a little bit earlier in the game and tried to play through it, naturally, like he would, given the type of character he is and being one of our leaders and our captains. So, no, unfortunately he won't be involved.”

For Ireland, the timing is brutal.

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Hallgrimsson’s team open their Nations League Group B3 campaign away to Kosovo on Thursday, 24 September, before travelling to face Israel three days later. The schedule does not ease: Austria visit the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, 1 October, and Ireland then meet Israel again at a neutral venue on Sunday, 4 October to close an extended international window.

Collins, one of the pillars of Ireland’s back line and the man wearing the armband, now looks unlikely to feature at the start of that run. With three games in 11 days and promotion ambitions on the line, Ireland may have to launch their campaign without their defensive leader.