“I think Wolves have got themselves a very, very good player.”
Seamus Coleman has tipped two Republic of Ireland players to have big seasons this year. Coleman has said that expects great things from Nathan Collins and Michael Obafemi.
The Ireland captain also said that Robbie Brady could return to the national team following a positive start to the season with Preston North End.
Seamus Coleman on Nathan Collins.
Coleman praised Collins following the defender’s transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers and tipped the Ireland star to have an excellent season.
Collins joined Wolves from Burnley for £20.5m earlier this summer and instantly cemented his place in the team. The 20-year-old appears to have been signed as a replacement for club captain Connor Coady, who has since left the club to join Everton.
“I don’t think anything I can say – even if it was in the highest of praise to put massive, massive pressure on him – would bother him,” Coleman said about his Ireland teammate.
“He’s really, really humble. He’s really focused. He’s really hard working, which, for me, is a great base for any player. But then, on top of that, there’s no getting away from it, he’s an excellent footballer.
“I think he’s developed very quickly as well. Even when he comes with Ireland, he’s quite assured, he plays out from the back, he’ll take the ball out from the back. He’s athletic.
“So, I think Wolves have got themselves a very, very good player. And, please God, for the next 10, 12 years he’ll be playing at the highest level.
“I can’t see why not, without putting too much pressure on him – he’s a great lad, he’s got a great work ethic, very humble, and a very, very good footballer.”
Coleman on Obafemi and Brady.
Coleman also tipped Obafemi to ‘kick on’ and have a great season. The Swansea City striker, 22, scored a stunning goal for Ireland against Scotland in June. He also netted 12 times in 32 games for the Swans last year and has scored once for the Championship side this season.
Coleman believes that Obafemi is benefitting from playing regular football at a competitive level, after struggling for playing time at Southampton.
“I think the games in the summer, and getting the goal, was a massive help for him personally,” Coleman said about Obafemi.
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“He came into the squad a few years ago, and he was young, of course. But there’s so much that can be said for going out and getting some games and playing football, playing competitively week-in, week-out, and playing at Championship level or whatever level you go to. You can’t beat minutes in the tank.
“And I think now you’re seeing the benefits of that with Michael and he’s got so many good attributes as well. Again, really nice lad, and I think he can kick on as well and he scored again last night.
“So, fingers crossed he can keep finding the back of the net cause the more of them the better – it’s a hard thing to do, let me tell you, to find the back of the net regularly.”
Coleman also said that the door isn’t closed on Robbie Brady returning to the Ireland team. The Dubliner hasn’t played for Ireland since 2021 but has started the season in excellent form for Preston.
Coleman has tipped Brady to make a return to the national team, given his ability and Stephen Kenny’s preference to pick players based on form.
Brady has earned 57 caps for Ireland so far and scored the winning goal against Italy at Euro 2016.
“I think the manager’s very open like that as well, a lot of what he does goes off form as well,” Coleman said.
“I know from the manager that there won’t be a game or a player that doesn’t see weekly – watching clips, seeing how they got on, he’ll know the scores of every game, what they’ve done, how they’ve played.
“So, for someone of Robbie’s ability and Robbie’s attributes, if he can, again, get regular football and stay fit, then, of course, Robbie Brady can be back in the Ireland set-up in a heartbeat.”
Republic of Ireland and Everton captain Seamus Coleman to help launch SPAR’s Better Choices campaign which is now available in stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.spar.ie
