NATHAN HAPPY TO EMBRACE HIS ROLE AS LEADER
NATHAN COLLINS has the cut of an Ireland captain-in-waiting and insists he relishes responsibility.
Ireland’s most expensive ever player, after a €24 million summer switch from Burnley to Wolves, he has quickly become an indispensable member of Stephen Kenny’s team.
Only seven games into his senior international career, the 21-year-old has emerged a trusted leader, on and off the pitch. Yesterday, he sat alongside Kenny at the pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s Nations League clash with Armenia.
That doesn’t mean he will start as captain tonight, as John Egan (inset) is likely to retain the armband, with Seamus Coleman’s lack of club games set to cost him a starting role again.
Egan, at 29, is four years younger than Coleman and as Kenny’s stand-in skipper of choice, is well-placed to take over from the Everton man whenever he steps aside. But Collins has a long career ahead of him. His value to this team is already without question and he ticks all the boxes for a future captain.
Challenge
Quizzed about his move to Wolves and the need to show leadership in the wake of Conor Coady’s switch to Everton, Collins said he embraced challenges.
“Taking responsibility is something that I’ve always had in myself, to take it on and to be that person. I don’t have a problem doing that,” he said.
“I don’t have a problem in leading a side. I want to be challenged and it’s another challenge and another thing to add to my game if I can. So I’m enjoying it.” Meanwhile, Collins is tipping Joe Hodge (20) to make the breakthrough with Wolves and Ireland.
Last month, the midfielder joined Wolves from Manchester City on a threeyear deal and is in Israel with the Ireland U21s for tonight’s big playoff decider. Collins said: “I talk a lot to Joe at Wolves as he’s with the first-team. He’s a really good guy and I like him.
“He’s a nice technical player and he has that old-school principle of not minding getting stuck in.
“He’s showing that now and I’ve a lot of belief that when he gets that opportunity he’ll show it to everyone.”