Collison and Collins’s absence is understandable, insists Coleman

Midfielder Collison (knee) and defender Collins (groin), a recent signing from Aston Villa, both removed themselves from the reckoning on Sunday for the Parc-y-Scarlets encounter, with Joel Lynch and Robert Earnshaw called up as their replacements.

Collison, 23, has been dogged by knee problems in recent seasons while Collins, 28, has not played for his country since the Euro 2012 qualifying defeat against England in March 2011.

The pair have come in for criticism from former Wales international Mickey Thomas, but Coleman sprang to their defence when questioned on their absence.

He said: “I have seen Mickey’s comments; he is paid to give his opinion but I don’t agree.

“Jack Collison has had a serious knee problem, not for six months or 12 months, but for two or three years. He has got through games when maybe he shouldn’t have because he wants to play, and he has even come away with Wales when maybe he shouldn’t have.

“But we know Jack very well, he has a lot of desire for football, he loves to come and play for Wales and we love having him play for Wales, but physically he cannot do it. He has not kicked a ball since the play-off final, where he ran himself into the ground and had a big impact. He has not done a lot since and he needs a rest.”

He added: “James Collins, we think, has a hernia problem which may need surgery, he can’t play. He limped off in a friendly in Portugal for West Ham so he can’t play.

“They are two players who will always be in my thoughts and be there or thereabouts when I am naming my squad.”

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill had no qualms about selecting Rangers duo Andy Little and Dean Shiels for tonight’s friendly against Finland, but will continue to monitor their situation over the course of the season.

Whether or not life in the fourth tier of Scottish football will be enough to sustain Little and Shiels through a difficult World Cup qualifying campaign remains to be seen and O’Neill has vowed to keep an open mind on the subject.