RISING Republic of Ireland star Nathan Collins has pledged to help his national team end their goalscoring drought and get back to winning ways in the Nations League match against Scotland today.
Burnley centre half Collins has impressed with his performances at the back for Stephen Kenny’s side since being handed his debut in a friendly against Qatar back in October.
The 6ft 4in 21-year-old is set to retain his place in the Group B1 match against Steve Clarke’s team at the Aviva Stadium this evening.
He is determined to help Ireland, who will be without experienced defenders Seamus Coleman, Matt Doherty and Joe Egan, keep a clean sheet against the visitors and pick up their first points in the competition.
However, the four-times capped player feels that he can contribute going forward and help his country, who were beaten 1-0 by Armenia away last Saturday and 1-0 by Ukraine at home on Wednesday night, in the final third.
“I've enjoyed it,” said Collins. “I love playing against the players in the Premier League and then coming in into the international side. I love playing for Ireland, I love the style we play and the freedom the manager gives me.
“On a personal note I think I have done alright. I watch back my games and I look at what I can improve on and there is still a lot to go.
“I've done my job at some part, but overall we've still conceded two goals in two games so maybe I can help out the team a little more to help prevent them. If we didn't concede two goals, we wouldn't have lost two games so that can be the difference.
“As much as people are giving me praise, I still think I can do a lot better and improve a lot. I prefer to win really.”
Collins continued: “We control the ball a lot, but when teams sit against us it's hard to move it and break down a team. In the final third, we have lacked that end product.
“As a team, I think overall we know what we're missing, it's that bit of end product and we need to find it. But that can also come from a defender. I could step in and find that pass or someone else.”
Collins, who moved from Stoke City to Burnley last summer, has been tipped to go to the very top of the professional game in his homeland and Kenny is confident he can build on the impressive start he has made to his international career.
"I'm trying to give him a kick up the backside, but I've got to compliment him at the same time,” he said.
"He has had a tremendous rise. We've seen his flexibility at Stoke playing centre back, right centre back and right back. He had to be patient at Burnley where there was an established partnership . When he played he was always excellent and he has come in seamlessly.
"He had a couple of injuries that ruled him out of camp. He had to wait his turn. We had other players coming in who did well. But Nathan has just been very very good. Hopefully he can continue in this run of form and I'm sure that he will."
