Nathan Collins focused on Ireland amidst Thomas Frank speculation
NATHAN COLLINS WILL return to Brentford from Republic of Ireland duty hoping Thomas Frank is still in charge amid speculation he is set to be appointed Tottenham boss.
It's understood Spurs are closing in on the Dane to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, after former manager Mauricio Pochettino ruled himself out of the running.
Bees defender Collins admitted it had been difficult to avoid the rumours as he and his international team-mates prepared for Tuesday night's friendly in Luxembourg.
The 24-year-old said: 'Every time I turn on the TV, I see it. I can't get away from it, unfortunately.
'But I have my own problems with the game tomorrow, staying fit and looking after myself. I haven't taken too much of an interest.'
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Since the squad first assembled in Dublin ahead of Friday night's friendly draw with Senegal, Collins has been joined at the Gtech Community Stadium by Ireland colleague Caoimhin Kelleher after the keeper completed an £18million [€21.32m] move from Liverpool.
The pair have joked about the possibility of the man who signed him leaving within days, but even if that does happen, the defender is confident the club will have a plan.
He said: 'Yes, we have been joking about it. But he is all right. Brentford is a good club that whatever happens, they will have a plan. There are good people in the back room plan, so there will be a plan.
'If he stays, even better. We can only see what happens.'
Whatever happens, 26-year-old Kelleher will be lining up in a Brentford shirt next season and his new club-mate cannot wait to play in front of him.
Collins said: 'I am looking forward to it. I get on really well with him here.
Clubmates: Collins and Kelleher. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo
'He shows his qualities as a keeper as well, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field, to help Brentford and Ireland as well.
'I am buzzing for him. It's a great move for him and he deserves to be a number one at a club.'
In the meantime, the pair will hope to help extend Ireland's unbeaten run to four games since they were beaten 5-0 by England in the Nations League at Wembley in November when they run out at the Stade de Luxembourg.
That was a painful evening for Collins and his team-mates, but one he believes served a purpose.
He said: 'The hurt in the dressing room after, it was not a nice place. For me, it created a new hunger. It did definitely reset me to want to do better and improve for the next camp.
'It might work in a good way for us.'
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RTÉ News
36 minutes ago
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Nathan Collins hails Caoimhín Kelleher as a goalkeeper of some stature
Nathan Collins is excited at the prospect of Caoimhín Kelleher joining him at Brentford next season, saying that the London club have now a goalkeeper of some stature. Last week, Kelleher, after period at Liverpool where he made a telling impact when deputising for Alison Becker, made the switch for an initial £12.5m fee. Collins was asked about Kelleher's arrival following Ireland's 0-0 draw with Luxembourg on Tuesday evening and told RTÉ Sport: "It's great to be able to play with someone of that stature". The Irish skipper, not surprisingly, is pleased that the Corkman is now a No 1 club keeper. "I think he deserves it, for all he's done for his previous club and how he has played in those high-level games. It's unbelievable, to bring a player of that calibre into the club and create a partnership with him on and off the field is going to be great for us." Nathan Collins says his side were 'nowhere near our best' in their 0-0 draw against Luxembourg this evening but that he 'will take' a clean sheet, chances and a draw. FT: 🇱🇺 LUX 0-0 🇮🇪 IRL 📺 @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Match report 👇 — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 10, 2025 Of course it was Thomas Frank who brought Kelleher to Brentford but the Dane looks set to take over at Tottenham. Collins was quick to pay tribute to his now former club boss, but is confident the Bees have the personnel to move on. "Thomas is unbelievable, I can only speak highly of him and what he has done for me as a player, what he has done for me over the last two seasons, the player he created. It will be a massive disappointment to lose him. But the way the club is and I know the team we have there, I don't think it will be a problem. We are able bring in good players to create that connection on the pitch. As I said, I don't think it will be a problem." Against Luxembourg, the Leixlip native nearly found the net in the opening half as his header on goal came off the woodwork. It's fair to say he was somewhat disappointed. when remarking: "We want to be a threat in every way possible. Set-pieces are a big thing for us, we have a good size in there so we should be creating a bit more. I was trying to read Dara's (O'Shea) header and get something on it." And so after a season where Collins played the most minutes of anyone in the Premier League, it's time for a well-earned break, but the 24-year-old is already looking towards those World Cup qualifiers in September against Hungary and Armenia. "I can't lie, I'm so excited for them," the defender added. "The home game against Hungary is going to be something else. We have momentum and we want to build on that, and I think we have a good chance of getting a win there. In this camp we wanted to win two games, we didn't, but we didn't lose. So that's the kind of momentum we want to create going forward."
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Nathan Collins tries to take positives from poor Luxembourg performance
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