Nathan Collins vows 'fortified' Ireland are ready to go to war

Ireland captain Nathan Collins says the squad have come through the last camp more bonded than ever

Nathan Collins at a Republic of Ireland Squad Press Conference in the Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Captain Nathan Collins admits Ireland must remove the ‘scar tissue’ of the last international camp for their trip to Uefa Nations League leaders Austria on Saturday night.

The Brentford skipper missed the four-game window, that included a pair of contentious matches against Israel, due to injury, admitting it was more ‘stressful’ monitoring the drama online from afar.

As it transpired in his absence, his colleagues took a vote on whether to proceed with the first match against a country found by an independent United Nations report to have committed genocide in Palestine. One player, Gavin Bazunu, boycotted the match based purely upon his personal belief that the “killing of innocent people is wrong."

“I can come in here probably come here with a fresher mind in that I don't have that scar tissue from what they experienced last month,” said the 25-year-old.

“There’s so much positives from what happened because everyone's just bonded really well. It’s hard to take that scar tissue from them but that’s extremely normal after what they experienced. 

“We're ready to go through war for each other. Austria are a really good team, one I enjoy watching with their pressing and attacking, but we’ll be ready for them.” 

Heimir Hallgrímsson confirmed a fully fit squad to choose from, while also revealing that Séamus Coleman won’t be in the squad. The defender, who has been without a club since his release from Everton in June, was recalled in a hybrid coaching role.

With five players – Jayson Molumby, Adam Idah, Ryan Manning, Conor Coventry and Liam Scales – a booking away from suspension, that stance may change for Tuesday’s final game against Kosovo at Lansdowne Road.

“Kosovo is the more important game of this window but it doesn’t mean we won’t try to win here,” the manager said during his pre-match press conference in Linz.