‘The belief is that we can get that big result’ – Nathan Collins calls on ‘Fortress Aviva’ for Portugal visit

Nathan Collins during an Ireland press conference at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland captain Nathan Collins is confident that the current crop of players in the Republic’s camp can end their run of being the nearly men in ties against the major nations in the game and use Thursday’s World Cup qualifier at home to Portugal as a chance to earn a statement win.

And assistant manager John O’Shea says the Ireland staff will take their time before deciding on a possible role for Roma striker Evan Ferguson in the second game of the double header. Johnny Kenny has been called up as cover after it was confirmed by Roma that Ferguson will spend the first part of the week at their training camp but O’Shea is optimistic that he could be fit enough to hook up with the panel in time for the trip to Hungary for Sunday’s game in Budapest.