New Brentford signing Nathan Collins has detailed what Bees fans can expect to see from him after he completed his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a club-record fee on Tuesday.
The centre-back, who has made 45 Premier League appearances for Wolves and Burnley over the last two seasons, said he likes to "dribble, play and create" from defence.
When asked about signing for the Bees, he stated: “It feels good. It’s been going on a while now so I’m happy we’re over the line.
“I talked with the manager and a few of the backroom staff about the project here. It’s a club on the rise and I can see where they want to go. It’s exciting to be here.
“I like to play football. I want to dribble, play and create. It starts at the back. I can play long balls and short balls. But, at the end of the day, I’m a defender and I have to head the ball, win it and win my challenges.
“[Me and Thomas Frank] have talked a lot. He’s said what he likes about me and has a plan in place.”
“I want to dribble, play and create. It starts at the back. I can play long balls and short balls. But, at the end of the day, I’m a defender and I have to head the ball, win it and win my challenges"
Collins, who was born in the Republic of Ireland and has represented his country 14 times, is a third-generation footballer, with both his grandad and dad former players, with members of his extended family also involved in the sporting world.
“Football-wise, it goes a long way back," he continued. "My grandad played and managed in Ireland and two of my uncles played and had good careers.
"My dad had a good career as well, my brother’s played professionally in Ireland, and two of my cousins have played professionally.
"My little sister plays Gaelic, and my little brother is playing football as well. The list goes on!
“Whenever me and my brother were playing anything - it didn’t matter what it was, it could be PlayStation, football or swimming - he’d always beat me, and I could never hack it! I always wanted to play again! I learnt the hard way.”
Another person Collins has been able to play with and learn from is now a team-mate of his: Ben Mee.
The defensive duo played together at Burnley (twice in the Premier League, keeping clean sheets in both games), before Mee was named as temporary assistant manager of the Clarets for the final eight games of the 2021/22 campaign, which Collins started all of.
On Mee, who was named the Bees' Supporters' Player of the Year last term, Collins said: "I’ve been texting him a little bit. He’s been helping me out. He helped me out a lot at Burnley when I first went in there. He’s a legend.
"He was good [as caretaker assistant manager]! We won a few games under him, so he might have a career there!"
When asked about Collins, Mee described the 22-year-old as "an old head on young shoulders", and the new Brentford signing theorised as to why he has gained so much maturity at such a young age.
"I’ve already experienced quite a lot in football, so that’s probably why I’m mature. I moved away from home when I was young," Collins said.
"As I mentioned, I have an older brother who was always beating me at things, so I learned from him.
"My family has always been involved with football, so I’ve learned from them and done what they’ve told me. It’s got me this far!"