While he is familiar with the old refrain of ‘Ooh Aah Paul McGrath’, Nathan Collins’ prefers a bit of Frank Sinatra as he contemplates another appearance for Ireland in midfield - saying: "I'll do it my way." Heimir Hallgrímsson is weighing up whether to start the Brentford centre-half again in an advanced position, this time in tonight’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-off first-leg against Bulgaria. It’s a tactic that worked well at Wembley last November while Ireland still had 11 men on the pitch against England. Collins played ahead of the defence and gave an extra layer of protection, as the Boys in Green produced a fine 45-minute display against Lee Carsley’s side, before it all fell apart after Liam Scales’ red card early in the second-half. McGrath was famously utilised on occasion by Jack Charlton in midfield. That was way before Collins’ time, but he is aware of the legendary player’s status among the Irish faithful. “I obviously heard a lot and the song (Ooh Ahh Paul McGrath) and everything,” said the Leixlip native. “We all know how good he was. If I can get to his level, it would be great.” Then, channelling his inner Sinatra, he added: “But I’ll try to do it my way.” Collins spoke yesterday about the process of adapting to the midfield role. “There’s a lot more going on,” he said. “Usually when I’m a defender it's mostly in front of you, but in that position a lot is behind you. “There’s runners behind, so my head is constantly in the swivel, checking where everybody is, trying to ensure they’re in the right position. “The game feels quicker in there and the ball moves quicker whereas at centre-back it moves a bit slower. “Just concentration, it’s constant and doesn’t stop. You must move up and down the pitch, to organise when we’re attacking and defending. “With the role we created, I had to pick the right moment to drop back in to defend but also stay up and press. “It’s something new, a challenge I was looking forward to, believing I could help the lads in that role. “It was an exciting challenge and I’d be happy to play there again if the manager wants.” Aside from Hallgrímsson, Collins can remember just one manager that experimented by pushing him into midfield. “I think I did a little bit at Stoke under Michael O’Neill, but not much, he obviously moved me back when he decided I wasn’t good enough,” he said. “So I did a bit there, but no not really, underage or in the academy. But I did grow up playing there until I was 13 or 14, but nothing since.” The instincts from his underage days are clearly still there. In a 2022 interview with this newspaper, shortly after Collins’ wonder-goal against Ukraine, his dad David spoke of his son’s ability to push beyond his defensive role. The ex-Liverpool, Oxford United and Shelbourne defender, who coached Nathan at Cherry Orchard, recalled: “When he was younger he played in centre-midfield. He was just technically so good. “But people would say, because he was a tall lad even then, why are you playing him in midfield, he’s too big. “We kept him there for as long as we could and then eventually with the squad we had, he dropped back into defence. “Because of the time he had in midfield he was so comfortable on the ball. “We played him on the left side of defence to test him and develop him. Then at Stoke he played right-back and a few matches in midfield as well. “So he has been exposed to different positions.” Collins’ tendency to wander up-field - where he was in a position to intercept the ball before scoring against Ukraine in June of 2022 - is nothing new either. “I think the first time I saw him do this was when he was 15 or 16 at Stoke,” said David. “The ball goes to the left-back or the left-sided defender in a three-man defence, and the other centre-half drops, Nathan steps into midfield. “I remember saying to him at an early age, why did you do that? He said, it gets me 40 yards up the pitch, I’m not being marked, I’m free and I’m penetrating straight away. “It’s an unusual position, because the midfielders are already picked up and he steps into that pocket where you don’t normally see a centre-half. “He is always looking to be innovative. He always wants more. He’s not happy to just say, ‘I’m a defender, so I’ll defend. There has to be more to it.” Back to the present and Collins junior is preparing for two big games that will decide Ireland’s Nations League fate. The two-legged nature of the tie hasn’t changed his mindset. He said: “It’s just two games of football that we look forward to and want to get on with. “Two tough challenges, two completely different games. So we’re just looking forward to it.” Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.