Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins is facing a race against time to be fit for the beginning of his country's Nations League campaign after suffering a calf injury in club action.
The Brentford defender was withdrawn during his side's 1-1 draw with Sunderland in the Premier League last weekend, with the issue now expected to keep him out for the foreseeable future.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews addressed the situation ahead of his side's upcoming fixture against Bournemouth, confirming that Collins would not be risked in the near term.
"No, he won't be involved this side of the international break. Unfortunately, he's picked up a calf injury," Andrews told reporters.
The Brentford boss suggested that Collins may have picked up the knock earlier in the match than initially thought, but chose to continue playing through the discomfort, a decision Andrews attributed to the defender's leadership qualities.
"He probably felt it a little bit earlier in the game and tried to play through it, naturally, like he would, given the type of character he is and being one of our leaders and our captains," Andrews said. "So, no, unfortunately he won't be involved."
The 24-year-old, who has earned 40 caps for his country, has established himself as a key figure both for Brentford and for the Republic of Ireland under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson. His potential absence represents a significant blow for the Irish side as they prepare to launch their Nations League Group B3 campaign.
Ireland are scheduled to open their group stage assignment away to Kosovo on Thursday, 24 September, before travelling to face Israel just three days later on the 27th. The team will then return home to host Austria at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, 1 October, before rounding off the international window with a second meeting against Israel at a neutral venue on Sunday, 4 October.
With four matches packed into a relatively short span, Hallgrimsson will be hoping his captain can recover in time to feature in at least some of the fixtures, particularly given Collins' importance to the side's defensive organisation and leadership on the pitch.
The extent of the injury and a definitive timeline for Collins' return have not yet been disclosed, meaning his availability for the entire international window remains uncertain. Brentford's medical staff will continue to monitor his recovery in the coming days, with further updates expected as the club and country management assess his readiness to return to action.
For now, Ireland will need to consider contingency plans at centre-back should their captain remain sidelined throughout the September fixtures. The situation will be closely watched by both club and international coaching staff as the crucial Nations League opener against Kosovo approaches.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.