'He's picked up a calf injury,' Andrews outlines injury for Ireland captain Collins

The Brentford defender hobbled out of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland.

Brentford's Nathan Collins applauds the fans after the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds.. Pic: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Wire.

The prospects of captain Nathan Collins featuring in Ireland’s upcoming Nations League campaign appear doomed after Brentford manager Keith Andrews confirmed a layoff for his skipper.

Collins, capped 40 times, hobbled out of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland with a muscle injury.

"No, he won't be involved this side of the international break,” Andrews said ahead of their weekend clash against Bournemouth.

“Unfortunately, he's picked up a calf injury.

"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.” 

Heimir Hallgrimsson names his squad on Thursday for a Group B3 campaign that begins away to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday, September 24.

Two controversial games against Israel – both in neutral countries of Hungary and Servia - are sandwiched in between by a home meeting with Austria on October 1.

Protests against Ireland’s participation in the Israel games are likely to be held during the window following a tennis-ball interruption of the friendly against Qatar in May.