Nathan Collins Injury Poses Risk for 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 more serious than first hoped.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews confirmed Collins will not feature again before the international break, ruling him out of the Bees’ clash with Bournemouth and casting a shadow over Ireland’s plans.

"No, he won't be involved this side of the international break. Unfortunately, he's picked up a calf injury," Andrews said, explaining that the defender, capped 40 times by his country, had tried to battle on.

"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, the timing could hardly be worse. Ireland open their Group B3 campaign away to Kosovo on Thursday, 24 September, before hosting Israel three days later, and Collins is central to both their defensive structure and their dressing-room hierarchy.

If he fails to make it, Ireland will not just be replacing a centre-back. They will be patching up the heart of their back line on the eve of a campaign that will help define Hallgrimsson’s early tenure.