Nathan Collins admitted his cellphone was “smoking” after he was inundated with messages within the wake of his gorgeous first Republic of Eire purpose.
The 21-year-old defender opened his account in type in Tuesday’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Ukraine within the Polish metropolis of Lodz, skating previous three defenders earlier than deftly putting the ball previous keeper Dmytro Riznyk with the surface of his proper foot.
Collins’ intervention prompted comparisons with West Germany nice Franz Beckenbauer and a tide of messages from household and buddies.
He stated afterwards: “I’ve solely seen it the as soon as, however I’ve been despatched it one million instances. I didn’t have time to textual content everybody again.”
Requested what number of cellphone messages he had obtained, he added: “Too many. It’s blown up. It’s smoking.”
The Burnley centre-back’s large second arrived 31 minutes right into a compelling contest when he intercepted Mykola Shaparenko’s move out of defence and side-stepped challenges from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Serhiy Sydorchuk and Illia Zabarnyi earlier than firing house.
He stated: “I like a little bit mazy run into midfield. I like working with the ball.
“I like dribbling and I simply noticed the prospect and thought: ‘If I don’t take it now, I by no means will’. I went for it, it labored out, it got here off and it was a purpose.”
Collins’ feat was all of the extra outstanding as he was successful simply his sixth senior cap, the final 4 of them inside 11 days this month, throughout which he was on the sphere for each single minute Eire performed.
His emergence as one in every of Stephen Kenny’s new era has been vastly spectacular, however has not come as a shock to team-mate James McClean, who noticed his potential as a younger participant throughout their time collectively at Stoke.
McClean, who captained the Republic in Lodz, stated: “I noticed him when he was actually solely a child at Stoke and you possibly can see his potential there. I bear in mind saying to individuals again then: ‘This lad goes to be a participant,’ and now he’s an excellent participant.
“I don’t need to put a number of strain on him by speaking about what he can do as a result of there will likely be a number of strain on him. I don’t need to add to that. However I feel this lad goes to be completely particular, and that’s solely a superb factor for Eire.”
Collins will now head off on vacation undecided what the long run holds for him within the wake of the Clarets’ relegation from the Premier League, however having given new boss Vincent Kompany one thing to consider.
He stated: “He’s a pure chief, isn’t he? He was a high participant and has executed it on the high degree. He has proven that over a few years, and everybody is aware of how good a supervisor he’s too.
“He has executed a extremely good job with Anderlecht and I feel he’s a extremely high man, from the surface anyway.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
