Nathan Collins Injury Threatens Ireland's Nations League Start

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

The centre-back limped out of 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, speaking before the Bees’ clash with Bournemouth, confirmed the setback and the timeline.

“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 his country, had tried to push through the problem during the game.

“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 Heimir Hallgrimsson and Ireland, the timing could hardly be worse.

Ireland open their Nations League Group B3 campaign away to Kosovo on Thursday, 24 September, before facing Israel three days later.

Those fixtures now loom with a major question hanging over them: will their captain be ready to lead them out, or will Hallgrimsson be forced to redraw his defensive plans on the fly?