Brentford defender Collins: I knew I was Prem class

Brentford and Ireland star Nathan Collins never doubted that he would be a Premier League player.

The defender always had the dream of playing in the English top flight, having grown up loving the game.

While he has moved around from one club to another, changing from Burnley to Wolves to Brentford, he is firmly a top flight footballer.

In my mind, there was never any doubt this was going to happen for me from a young age," he told Sunday World about his fledgling career.

I had a football at my feet when I was two. It feels like I was destined to have this career.

So when I am marking Harry Kane or Mohamed Salah now, it doesn't feel weird to me at all. I feel like I belong here.

I always wanted to do this and it always felt possible for me, even if the odds of getting to where I am now are massive.

The fact that my Dad and my uncle played the game at a good level was a big help to me and it made it feel pretty normal for me to follow in their footsteps.

"At school, I was as interested in my studies as my Mam thought I was!

"She was always telling me to make sure I focused on school because the chances of making it as a footballer are nearly impossible.

"I tried my best at school, but in my mind, I was thinking I won't be here long. The aim was to get to England and be a footballer as quickly as possible."